Application of partial least-squares calibration to phosphorimetric data for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in spiked environmental samples

A partial least-squares calibration method is proposed, for the first time, for phosphorescence signals. The proposed method is based on the determina tion of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benz[a]anthracene by room temperatu re phosphorimetry, using microemulsion solutions. The emission and first-de rivative emission spectra of the ternary mixtures were tested to perform th e calibration matrix. Improved recoveries were found for the prior differen tiation step in the analysis of ternary mixtures of these polycyclic aromat ic hydrocarbons in road dust samples. The proposed method yielded recoverie s ranging from 93.2 to 115.3 %, with relative standard deviations of < 6.8% .