EVALUATION OF PRESSURIZED FLUID EXTRACTION FOR THE EXTRACTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MATRIX REFERENCE MATERIALS

Pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) has been evaluated for the extracti on of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinate d biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and chlorinated pesticides from the follow ing reference materials: SRM 1649a (Urban Dust/Organics), SRM 1650 (Di esel Particulate Matter), SRM 2975 (Diesel Particulate Matter, Industr ial Forklift), SRM 1941a (Organics in Marine Sediment), SRM 1944 (New York/New Jersey Waterway Sediment), SRM 2974 (Organics in Freeze-Dried Mussel Tissue), CARP-1 (Ground Whole Carp), and CARP-2 (Ground Whole Carp). Several solvent systems were evaluated for each reference mater ial. PFE showed extraction efficiency comparable to that of Soxhlet ex traction for the selected PAHs, PCB congeners, and chlorinated pestici des quantified in the air particulate, sediment, mussel tissue, and fi sh materials and greater extraction efficiencies for the higher molecu lar weight PAHs in the diesel particulate materials.