DETERMINATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN WATERS BY USE OFSUPERCRITICAL-FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED ONLINE TO SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION WITH DISKS

The potential of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) coupled on-l ine to solid-phase extraction (SPE) with disks for determining sixteen different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was assessed. A pre liminary study of the chromatographic separation was conducted that le d to the use of SPE coupled to SFC for improved detection limits. Disk s of two different materials, i.e., C-18 and polystyrene-divinylbenzen e, were assayed in terms of the variables influencing the extraction s tep. C-18 disks provided the best results, with detection limits rangi ng from 0.1 to 1.5 mu g l(-1). The ensuing method was applied to river and tap water, with good repeatability and reproducibility, and no in terference from the sample matrix. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.