Screening Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Optimization of microwave-assisted solvent extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments using a microwave extraction system with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In the present study, a microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) technique using a microwave extraction system (MES) has been developed for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from marine sediment. The optimum MASE conditions can be obtained by performing the mixed-level orthogonal array design (OAD) procedure. A comparison between the Soxhlet extraction method and the MASE technique showed that although both techniques gave comparable results on certified reference materials (CRM) HS-4 and HS-6, the MASE technique allows the use of less solvent and is also time-saving and cost-effective without affecting its extraction efficiency. The optimum MASE technique was coupled to two analytical techniques: high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with both ultraviolet (UV) and fluorescence detectors and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the qualitative and quantitative screening of PAHs in CRM and “real world” samples. Recoveries of PAHs from two CRMs were all above 73.3%. The concentration of PAHs in marine sediment collected from primary industrial areas was between 0.03 and 0.35 μg/g on a dry weight basis.

Screening of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil by On-Line Fiber-Optic-Interfaced Supercritical Fluid Extraction Spectrofluorometry

An interface for spectrofluorometric measurements in the supercritical (SC) CO2 emerging from the extraction cell of a supercritical fluid extractor prior to depressurization was developed. The windowless flow cell designed for this purpose is furnished with an inlet and outlet for the SC-CO2 stream; it can withstand pressures up to at least 350 bar and is connected to the light source and detector by means of two fiber-optic cables. The combined system allows the real-time on-line fluorometric monitoring of the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process and provides qualitative and semiquantitative information from supercritical extracts of real and spiked samples. The determination of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in spiked soil by SFE with on-line fluorescence detection provided relative standard deviations less than 5%, as well as benzo[k]fluoranthene recoveries from several spiked soils between 93 and 107%, with an RSD less than 10%. Also, crysene−benzo[a]anthracene binary mixtures in spiked soil were resolved with recoveries of 89−103% and an RSD of about 10%. The use of the proposed equipment for screening real soil samples for PAHs using on-line SFE spectrofluorometry is demonstrated.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking and surface waters from Galicia (N.W. Spain) by constant-wavelength synchronous spectrofluorimetry

We describe a fast, new method for determination of the joint concentration of the six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), designated by current legislation as indicators of the quality of drinking waters and surface waters intended for the abstraction of drinking waters. The limit of detection of the new method was 6 ng l −1, its limit of quantification 20 ng l −1, its precision (CV%) 2.48 and its recovery 94.05%. Its speed allowed rapid PAH screening of 404 samples of surface and drinking water from Galicia (N.W. Spain).

Screening Benzo(a)pyrene Metabolites in Urine Using Synchronous Room Temperature Phosphorescence

Abstract We have developed a simple measurement procedure for screening of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAC) and their metabolites in urine using room temperature phosphorescence (RTP). The signal intensities were proportional to the amounts of benzo(a)pyrene-r-7,t-8,9,10,tetrahydrotetrol (BPT) below 75 pmol per spot. The presence of unknown substances in urine of exposed rats caused photochemical interferences in the measurement of RTP. The removal of polar interferants restored the RTP spectra. These substances were removed by selective absorption of the target compounds to hydrocarbon-bonded silica particles (RP) imbedded in Whatman 42 filter paper discs. The sensitivity and linear response range are dependent on the signal to noise ratio of the instrument. Up to 1000 pmol of BPT can be adsorbed to 40 μg of imbedded RP. When an instrument with signal to noise ratio capabilities of 300 is used, 5 pmol of BPT can be detected with an S/N of 3. Room temperature phosphorescence measurements of urine fr...

Rapid screening of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fingerprinting of environmental materials by laser-excited fluorescence spectrometry

Laser-excited fluorescence of aromatic molecular vapors in a graphite furnace has been used as a rapid screening method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in various sample types and as a fingerprinting technique for crude oils, petroleum products and particulate matter. The simplicity and speed of the method indicate that it will be a useful method for PAH screening.