ANALYSIS OF TRACE POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND ORGANOCHLORINECOMPOUNDS IN ATMOSPHERIC RESIDUES BY SOLID-PHASE DISK EXTRACTION

A method based on the use of solid-phase extraction disks for the anal ysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine compounds (pg l(-1)) in deposition samples collected in remote sites is describe d. Diverse aspects determining extraction efficiencies such as packing composition (C-8 and C-18), extraction number and elution solvents ha ve been evaluated. The lowest relative standard deviations (3-20%) and best extraction efficiencies (80-100%) have been obtained using a sol vent program of methanol, cyclohexane and dichloromethane (5 ml each) and octadecylsilane disks. Detection and quantitation limits were in t he order of 0.14-3.5 pg l(-1). These Limits were achieved by gas chrom atography coupled to mass spectrometry and detection in the selected i on monitoring mode. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .