SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION FOR THE SELECTIVE ISOLATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS, AZAARENES AND HETEROCYCLIC AROMATIC-AMINES IN CHARCOAL-GRILLED MEAT

A method for the simultaneous analysis of 12 mutagenic and/or carcinog enic compounds is described; these substances belong to three differen t chemical groups: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), azaarenes, i.e., nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PANHs), a nd heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). The selective enrichment proce dure includes coupling of solid-phase extraction (SPE) steps using dia tomaceous earth, propylsulfonic acid, silica gel and octadecylsilane c olumns. The eluted fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and electrochemical detection. Levels measured were estimated to be 4-19 ng g(-1). Peak confirmation was carried out by GC-MS for both PAHs and PANHs, and by LC with a photodiode array de tector for HAAs. The method was applied to the analysis of charcoal-gr illed meat and was judged to be generally applicable for detection of these mutagens at the ppb level in processed foods.