Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment reference materials by microwave-assisted extraction

The microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from harbor sediment reference material EC-1, marine sediment refer ence material HS-2 and PAM-spiked river bed soil was conducted. The extract ion conditions for EC-1 were carried out at 70 degrees C and 100 degrees C under pressure in closed vessels with cyclohexane-acetone (1:1), cyclohexan e-water (3:1), hexane-acetone (1:1), and hexane-water (3:1) for 10 min. A c omparison between MAE and a 16-h Soxhlet extraction (SX) method showed that both techniques gave comparable results with certified values. MAE has adv antages over the currently used Soxhlet technique due to a faster extractio n time and lower quantity of solvent used. The consumption of organic solve nt of the microwave method was less than one-tenth compared to Soxhlet. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.