Inexpensive simple extraction of trace PAHs from water using PS-DVB monolithic beads

Abstract

A new simple and sensitive analytical technique based on polystyrene-divinyl benzene (PS-DVB) monolithic bead extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopic detection (GC-MS) was developed for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. The PS-DVB monolithic bead was fabricated and used as the adsorbent. The experimental parameters controlling the performance of the bead extraction were optimized. Calibration curves showed excellent linear fits, with r² > 0.995 for all PAHs in the 2–30 000 ng mL⁻¹ range. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.01 to 0.47 ng mL⁻¹. Recoveries of the PAHs in environmental water samples spiked at a concentration of 500 ng mL⁻¹ were 72–109%, while they were 69–114% for water spiked at 20 ng mL⁻¹. Both intraday and interday repeatabilities were high, with RSDs for 16 PAHs spiked standard solutions being less than 10%. The present study indicated that the proposed method is well suited for the quantification of PAHs in environmental and drinking water samples.