Comparison of Extraction Techniques for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soil

Abstract

The development of a simple method for the extraction and determination polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil by applying the clean-up, and pre concentration technique has been validated with limits of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery and others factor. The implemented techniques were Soxhlet, ultrasonication and mechanical shaking and followed by solid phase extraction C-18 (SPE) to clean up and pre-concentrated was investigated. The results were compared to determine the method with the highest extraction efficiency. Chromatographic conditions for the separation of PAHs using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) using Ultraviolet - Diode Array Detector (UV-DAD) were also optimised. Analysis of standard spiked soil blank resulted in recoveries 70 - 107% for ultrasonic, 55 - 110% for mechanical shaker and 57 - 99% for Soxhlet.