On-line clean-up of pressurized liquid extracts for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in feedingstuffs and food matrices using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This paper describes a fast and simple pressurized liquid extraction method for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in feedingstuffs and food matrices. The method is based on a simultaneous extraction/clean- up step requiring a minimum of sample handling. The final analysis was perf ormed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven PCBs (28, 52, 101, 1 18, 138, 153 and 180) were analyzed, all of which are indicator congeners t hat, according to European legislation should be included in the analytical monitoring program. The extracted matrices were spiked feed for poultry an d two certified reference materials naturally contaminated with PCBs (cod-l iver oil and milk powder), which showed excellent conformity with certified data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.