This document describes a method for the determination of 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in drinking water. The analyte is concentrated using an automated solid phase extraction (SPE) method and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection.
The document presents a validated analytical method for the determination of 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in drinking water. The method utilizes an automated solid phase extraction (SPE) technique to concentrate analytes from an 800 mL water sample, followed by analysis using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (FLD) and diode-array (DAD) detectors. The approach achieves a separation of 24 PAHs in approximately 27 to 28 minutes, offering a significant improvement over traditional methods that require around 45 minutes per run.
The analysis relies on the Agilent Pursuit 3 PAH column (100 x 4.6 mm, 3 µm). For the SPE step, the method optimizes the use of the Bond Elut Plexa polymeric sorbent. The process involves loading the sample, drying, and eluting with a mixture of ethyl acetate and dichloromethane. The document details the specific chromatographic conditions, including the gradient profile and fluorescence detection parameters, as well as the validation results demonstrating excellent linearity and precision.
| Column dimensions | 100 x 4.6 mm |
|---|---|
| Column temperature | 30 °C |
| Analysis time | 27 minutes |
| SPE Sorbent type | Bond Elut Plexa |
| SPE sample volume | 800 mL |
The optimized chromatogram led to a separation of 24 PAHs in 27 minutes.
The method achieved best results using the polymer-based sorbent Bond Elut Plexa.