MICROWAVE-ASSISTED SOLVENT-EXTRACTION OF AIR PARTICULATES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PAHS

A method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PA Hs) in air particulates using microwave-assisted solvent extraction (M ASE) coupled to a microwave extraction system (MES) is proposed. Durin g the period of August to October, 1994, Singapore was enveloped by ha ze caused by forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia. Air sampling were car ried out during September and October, the determination of ambient ai r PAH levels in Singapore was undertaken. PAH analysis by GC-MS provid ed excellent sensitivity, linearity of quantitation, peak identificati on. This technique was evaluated using certified reference materials ( CRMs) HS-4 and HS-6. Good recoveries of PAHs (>73.3%) were obtained fo r both CRMs. The MASE technique using MES is suitable for the determin ation of PAH levels in ambient air with no clean-up step required.