Single-use porous thin film extraction with gas chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry for high-throughput analysis of 16 PAHs

Abstract

The need for high throughput, reliable analytical methods for environmental analysis has driven our development of novel sampling technologies that can be used in microextraction devices and integrated into chromatographic systems for fast analysis. Here we report a new method of water analysis for 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that relies on a tailor made porous polymeric film for extraction with analysis by gas chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (APGC-MS/MS). The extraction device is user friendly, single-use and gives exhaustive extraction from a relatively small volume (20 mL). The films show good stability, with excellent analytical performance. Critical factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as desorption solvent, desorption time, extraction agitation, and extraction time were studied and optimized. These thin films are cost effective and efficient for single use analysis, but carry-over studies showed that the films can be reused at least 10 times without extensive washing and with no loss in performance. The 16 PAHs were measured with excellent limits of detection ranging from 1 pg mL−1 for BaA to 100 pg mL−1 for Flu and linearity (R2 > 0.997) over the 1–50,000 pg mL−1 concentration range. This high throughput method (1-h extractions, which can be completed simultaneously) showed good reproducibility (<20%) with recoveries in the range of 19.0–40.6% and concentration factors varying between 37.9 and 81.1. Analysis of real seawater and river water samples using matrix-matched calibration in synthetic seawater and river water showed only small matrix effects maintaining high sensitivity (LODs:1–100 pg mL−1), demonstrating that the films are suitable for analysis of real samples without the need for standard addition.