Microwave-assisted extraction of organochlorine compounds in marine sediments with organized molecular systems

Analysis of marine sediments is particulary important because they are cons idered pollution indicators, since they present a view of the spatial distr ibution of pollutants. The use of microwave energy enables a simple and rap id analysis of different kinds of compounds present in these media. This work shows the results obtained during the optimization process for th e application of microwave-assisted extraction methodology (MAE) to the det ermination of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), present in different m arine sediment samples, as well as in mixtures with polychlorinated bipheny ls (PCBs), using two non-ionic surfactants (oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether and polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether) as extractants. After extraction , the organochlorinated compounds are determined by HPLC using fluorescence detection. Recovery rates are compared with those obtained when Soxhlet ex traction is used for the same purpose.