UCT has produced an application note outlining a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using C18 SPE universal cartridges to extract 16 PAHs in water by EPA method 8310. This is a performance-based method allowing for modifications with the QC acceptance criteria met.
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) consist of a large group of organic compounds with two or more fused aromatic rings. EPA method 8310 is a performance-based hazardous waste test method (SW-846) regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which allows analysts to modify sampling and analytical approaches flexibly to meet the measurement requirements and is capable of determining 16 PAHs.
In this application the target PAHs are retained on the C18 sorbent, and are later eluted with acetone and dichloromethane (DCM). Sodium sulfate drying cartridges are used to remove any residual water in the SPE eluates. The dried eluates are concentrated, exchanged to acetonitrile, and analysed by HPLC with
ultraviolet (UV) or fluorescence detectors (FLD).
SPE Procedure
Detailed conditions can be found by downloading the application note.
Results
Conclusion
A simple and efficient SPE method has been demonstrated for the extraction of 16 PAHs in water by EPA method 8310, a performance based method allowing for modifications with the QC acceptance criteria met. Excellent recoveries and RSD% (< 10%, n = 4) have been obtained using this SPE method, all parameters have passed the QC limits required by EPA method 8310, offering environmental testing labs a successful alternate extraction method that is more selective, consumes less organic solvents, and yields no emulsion which is a bottleneck when using liquid-liquid extraction for real world samples.
