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Comparative performance of extraction strategies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peats

Authors :
Jesus Simal-Gandara
Elena Martínez-Carballo
Xabier Pontevedra-Pombal
Ledicia Rey-Salgueiro
M.S. García-Falcón
Marta Álvarez-Casas
Source :
Journal of Chromatography A. 1216:5235-5241
Publication Year :
2009
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2009.

Abstract

The assessment of historical trends in atmospheric deposition of organic contaminants by using peat samples has been reported on several occasions because these samples represent an almost ideal medium for recording temporal changes in organic contaminant deposition rates. The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in peat samples is complicated due to the high content of organic matter in peat, which affects both extraction efficiency and analytical quality. A rapid and simple method is proposed for the determination of 10 US Environmental Protection Agency indicator PAHs in complex matrices such as peat. This article reviews and addresses the most relevant analytical methods for determining PAHs in peat. We discuss and critically evaluate three different extraction procedures, such as ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE), shaking and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Clean-up of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using silica cartridges. Detection of the selected PAHs was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection for determination. Optimization of the variables affecting extraction by the selected extraction techniques was conducted, concluding that the UASE extraction method using hexane:dichloromethane (80:20) as extractant was robust enough to determine the selected PAHs in peat samples with estimated quantification limits between 0.050 and 3.5 microg/kg depending on the PAH. UASE did not demand sophisticated equipment and long extraction times. PLE involved sophisticated equipment and showed important variations in the results. The method proposed was applied to the determination of PAHs in peat samples from Xistral Mountains (Galicia, Spain).

Details

ISSN :
00219673
Volume :
1216
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Chromatography A
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....392d115c751308683d5b95bcc9d94012
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2009.05.011