Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and sediment with on-line coupled pressurised hot water extraction, hollow fibre microporous membrane liquid–liquid extraction and gas chromatography

Abstract

Pressurised hot water extraction (PHWE) was coupled on-line via hollow fibre microporous membrane liquid–liquid extraction (HF-MMLLE) to gas chromatography (GC) and applied in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and sediment. In this combination, the MMLLE unit serves as a trapping device for the extracted compounds. Simultaneously it cleans and concentrates the extract, which is then transferred on-line to the GC. No extra clean-up steps are required between the trapping and the transfer to GC. The on-line system gives excellent sensitivity while allowing small sample size. The method was linear, with limits of detection in the range 50–890 pg and limits of quantification 0.11–1.22 µg g⁻¹. The concentration enrichment factors obtained with the method ranged from 9 to 55. Comparison of the results with those obtained by other techniques confirmed the good performance.