Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmospheric particulate: focused microwaves for a faster extraction method

In this paper, improvements obtained by using focused microwaves for extrac tion, in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed o n particulate matter, are discussed. The method was tested on the following PAHs, which are considered to be among the most harmful with regard to car cinogenicity: benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthen e, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene. The extr action of PAHs and concentration of the sample can be performed in 3&emsp14 ;h with a recovery of at least 70% and a maximum standard deviation of 4%. These steps are followed by clean-up on a SPE (solid-phase extraction) cart ridge and analysis by GC-MS. Real samples collected in the urban area of Ba ri were analysed according to the proposed procedure.