Simultaneous analysis of organic pollutants in soils by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), phthalate esters (PAEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils is described. Soils were ultrasonically extracted with a mixture of acetone–petroleum ether (1:1, v/v). Two equal portions of combined extracts were fractionated with different polarity solvents via Florisil and silica gel chromatography, to determine OCPs and PAEs, and PAHs, respectively. Reliable recoveries were obtained, which were 92–121% for OCPs, 68–141% for PAEs, and 75–120% for PAHs. The limits of detection were 0.001–0.017 ng g−1 for OCPs, 0.001–0.022 µg g−1 for PAEs, and 0.002–0.042–µg g−1 for PAHs. In order to check the method, soils collected from the Beijing region were analysed. The average concentrations were 39–91 ng g−1 for OCPs, 1–2 µg g−1 for PAEs, and 0.24–2.12 µg g−1 for PAHs in urban and rural areas, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to confirm the analyzed compounds by gas chromatography (GC).