Surface water preparation procedure for chromatographic determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls

A new sample preparation procedure for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water containin g suspended particulate matter (SPM) has been developed. A specially design ed filtration vessel coupled directly to an SPE cartridge was used for this purpose. SPM separation and analyte isolation/concentration were carried o ut in a single step. Both the SPE cartridge and the suspended matter collec ted on the filter were solvent extracted, and analyte recoveries were deter mined. Analyte recoveries from the filtrate ranged from 64 to 100% of the s piked amount for PAHs with the highest aqueous solubilities, and did not ex ceed 20% for those with the lowest solubilities. Total recoveries of PAHs f rom surface water containing 21 mg l(-1) SPM ranged from 65 to 121%. PCB re coveries from the particulate matter reached over 10% of the spiked amount, while those from the filtrate ranged from 20 to 57%. Total PCBs recoveries ranged from 34 to 69%. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.