Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments by high-performance liquid chromatography after microwave-assisted extraction with micellar media

A simple and rapid method is developed for extraction and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine sediments. The procedure was based on the microwave-assisted extraction of PAHs in marine sediment samples using a micellar medium of Polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether as extractant. Two-level factorial designs have been used to optimize the microwave extraction process. The analysis of extracts has been carried out by HPLC with UV detection. Fortified sediments gave an average recovery between 85.70 and 100.73%, with a relative standard deviation of 1.77-7.0% for PAHs with a ring number higher than three.     

Improved ultrasonic extraction procedure for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments

The aim of this work was to optimize an ultrasonic extraction procedure for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and to compare it with the reflux procedure using methanolic potassium hydroxide. Sample extracts were purified with a miniaturized silica gel chromatographic column and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ultrasonication using n-hexane-acetone (1:1, v/v) solvent mixture on dried homogenized marine sediment gave better precision (smaller relative standard deviation (RSD) values) and comparable quantities of individual PAH's compared to the reflux procedure. Ultrasonication with the n-hexane-acetone (1:1, v/v) mixture, utilizing four 15 min extraction cycles, was found to be sufficient for extracting PAHs from wet sediments. The optimized ultrasonic extraction procedure extracted aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons from the National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 1941a with recoveries greater than 90%. The major advantages of ultrasonication compared to the reflux method are the lower extraction times, simplicity of the apparatus and extraction procedure. The optimized ultrasonication procedure has been used in our laboratory to extract hydrocarbons from naturally wet sediments from rivers, and coastal and marine areas.     

Combined protocol for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBx) from sediments using focussed microwave assisted (FMW) extraction at atmospheric pressure

A microwave-assisted protocol has been developed using focussed microwaves at atmospheric pressure for the extraction of PAHs and PCBs from sediments. It combines extraction and purification assisted by microwaves. This protocol has been applied to the quantification of 12 individual PAHs, 8 individual PCBs and 8 PCB coeluted mixtures from two Standard Reference Materials and one natural sediment. The results for both classes of compounds (PAHs and PCBs) are good in terms of recoveries, which are always greater than 70% and in most cases around 100%. The reproducibility is also good with coefficients of variation below 10% in most cases. This protocol has the great advantage of saving time, the time dedicated to the preparation / extraction assisted by microwaves being reduced to less than half an hour.     

Combined protocol for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) from sediments using focussed microwave assisted (FMW) extraction at atmospheric pressure

A microwave-assisted protocol has been developed using focussed microwaves at atmospheric pressure for the extraction of PAHs and PCBs from sediments. It combines extraction and purification assisted by microwaves. This protocol has been applied to the quantification of 12 individual PAHs, 8 individual PCBs and 8 PCB coeluted mixtures from two Standard Reference Materials and one natural sediment. The results for both classes of compounds (PAHs and PCBs) are good in terms of recoveries, which are always greater than 70% and in most cases around 100%. The reproducibility is also good with coefficients of variation below 10% in most cases. This protocol has the great advantage of saving time, the time dedicated to the preparation / extraction assisted by microwaves being reduced to less than half an hour.     

Factors Controlling Leaching of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Petroleum Source Rock Using Nonionic Surfactant

The extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from petroleum source rock by nonionic surfactants with the assistance of microwave irradiation was investigated and the conditions for maximum yield were determined. The results showed that the extraction temperatures and type of surfactant have significant effects on extraction yields of PAHs. Factors such as surfactant concentration, irradiation power, sample/solvent ratio and mixing surfactants (i.e., mixture of surfactant at specific ratio) also influence the extraction efficiencies for these compounds. The optimum temperature for microwave-assisted nonionic surfactant extraction of PAHs from petroleum source rock was 120 °C and the best suited surfactant was Brij 35. The new method showed extraction efficiencies comparable to those afforded by the Soxhlet extraction method, but a reduction of the extraction times and environmentally friendliness of the new nonionic surfactant extraction system are clear advantages. The results also show that microwave-assisted nonionic surfactant extraction is a good and efficient green analytical preparatory technique for geochemical evaluation of petroleum source rock.

     

A Simple Extraction Method for Determination of High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

A simplified extraction method was developed for extracting high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from river sediments. The samples were extracted 3 times with 5 mL of solvent (toluene:methanol, 9 : 1, v/v) at 100 °C, 10 minutes for each extraction. After clean‐up and concentration, extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC‐MS). The extraction efficiency and accuracy was evaluated by the standard reference material (SRM‐1941b). Comparing to certified values, the average recoveries of high molecular weight PAHs with 3, 4, 5 and 6 fused benzene rings were 72.9∼113.2 % (R.S.D. 2.3∼6.3 %) except those of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (206.2±4.6 %). The average recoveries for PAHs spiked sediment samples were comparable with accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and Soxhlet methods. The simple extraction method consumes less solvent, fewer amount of sample than those of conventional methods. The lowest quantitation limit of PAHs is 1.1 μg/kg.     

加速溶剂萃取/气相色谱-质谱测定海洋沉积物中的痕量多环芳烃

沉积物是多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)在环境中迁移归趋的一个重要的汇[1]。沉积物中多环芳烃的提取方法主要有索氏提取、超声波提取、微波萃取、加速溶剂提取及超临界流体萃取等。其中加速溶剂提取(accelerated solvent extraction,ASE)由于提取速度快,溶     

The ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide as novel extracting system for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in sediments using focused microwave-assisted extraction

A method to extract PAHs from sediments is carried out using aqueous solutions containing aggregates of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HDMIm-Br) as the extracting medium. Focused microwave-assisted extraction has been used to accelerate the extraction step, followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection without clean-up steps to remove the IL prior to injection. The method has been applied to certified reference sediment BCR-535 and marine sediments from Tenerife (Canary Islands) with successful results. The optimized method gave average absolute recoveries of 91.1% for six of the seven PAHs studied, with relative standard deviations lower than 10.4%. The overall method is characterized for presenting low extraction times (6min), low amounts of the sediment (0.1g), low amounts of IL (45mM), and low volumes of aqueous extractant solution (9mL). The use of small amounts of both IL and aqueous extractant solution allows the method to be considered environmental-friendly.     

Equilibrium partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a cloud-point extraction process

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, to extract selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous solutions is investigated. The CPE process is facilitated at the ambient temperature, ca. 22 degrees C, by the reduction of the cloud-point temperature of the surfactant solution by addition of sodium sulfate. It is observed that the preconcentration factor could be enhanced either by increasing the salt concentration or by decreasing the initial surfactant concentration in the micellar solution. A high preconcentration factor of about 40 was achieved at 1 wt% surfactant concentration with the addition of 0.6 M Na(2)SO(4). It is also noted that the equilibrium partition coefficients of the model PAHs are nearly independent of surfactant concentrations, up to 3 wt%, in this study. Correlations between the equilibrium partition coefficients K(p) of the PAHs and their octanol-water partition coefficients K(ow), as well as K(p) and the molar volume V(x) of these PAHs, indicate that the partition processes of the PAHs in the CPE processes are mainly governed by their hydrophobic affinities to the surfactant aggregates. Furthermore, the effect of added Na(2)SO(4) on the equilibrium partition coefficients is also studied. It is shown that addition of more Na(2)SO(4) to the surfactant solution gives more partition of the PAHs into the surfactant-rich phase.     

Static subcritical water extraction with simultaneous solid-phase extraction for determining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on environmental solids

A rapid and very simple method for extracting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soils, sediments, and air particulate matter has been developed by coupling static subcritical water extraction with styrene-divinylbenzene (SDB-XC) extraction discs. Soil, water, and the SDB-XC disc are placed in a sealed extraction cell, heated to 250 degrees C for 15 to 60 min, cooled, and the PAHs recovered from the disc with acetone/methylene chloride. If the cells are mixed during heating, all PAHs with molecular weights from 128 to 276 are quantitatively (>90%) extracted and collected on the sorbent disc and are then recovered by shaking with acetone/methylene chloride. After water extraction, the sorbent discs can be stored in autosampler vials without loss of the PAHs, thus providing a convenient method of shipping PAH extracts from field sites to the analytical laboratory. The method gives good quantitative agreement with standard Soxhlet extraction, and with certified reference materials for PAH concentrations on soil, sediment (SRM 1944), and air particulate matter (SRM 1649a).     

Micellar microwave-assisted extraction combined with solid-phase microextraction for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a certified marine sediment

A method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine sediments using microwave-assisted extraction with a micellar medium combined with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed. Two kinds of SPME fibers (100 μm polydimethylsiloxane and 85 μm polyacrylate) and different micellar media were compared for the extraction efficiency of the 16 EPA priority PAHs. The polyacrylate fiber with a micellar medium of polyoxyethylene-10-laurylether provides the highest extraction efficiency. The method is remarkable for presenting lower equilibrium times and considerably higher reproducibilities than the obtained in aqueous medium. The LODs obtained ranged between 0.28 ng/ml for fluorene and 7.66 ng/ml for indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. The method has been applied to the determination of PAHs in a certified marine sediment (SRM 1941a), obtaining recoveries between 58.6 and 111.5% for three- to five-ring PAHs with precision close to or lower than the certified values.     

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of hydrocarbons in marine sediments: comparison with the Soxhlet extraction method

Microwave energy was applied to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and linear aliphatic hydrocarbons (LAHs) from marine sediments. The influence of experimental conditions, such as different extracting solvents and mixtures, microwave power, irradiation time and number of samples extracted per run has been tested using real marine sediment samples; volume of the solvent, sample quantity and matrix effects were also evaluated. The yield of extracted compounds obtained by microwave irradiation was compared with that obtained using the traditional Soxhlet extraction. The best results were achieved with a mixture of acetone and hexane (1:1), and recoveries ranged from 92 to 106%. The extraction time is dependent on the irradiation power and the number of samples extracted per run, so when the irradiation power was set to 500 W, the extraction times varied from 6 min for 1 sample to 18 min for 8 samples. Analytical determinations were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet-visible photodiode-array detector for PAHs and gas chromatography (GC) using a FID detector for LAHs. To test the accuracy of the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique, optimized methodology was applied to the analysis of standard reference material (SRM 1941), obtaining acceptable results.     

Optimisation of supercritical fluid extraction of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from spiked soil and marine sediment standard reference material

 For the determination of 16 PAHs in soils and sediment samples by GC/FID and GC/MS, the dynamic off-line supercritical fluid extraction with both pure and modified carbon dioxide has been evaluated. The optimisation of extraction parameters was performed for four individual groups of PAHs according to their number of aromatic rings (2–3 rings, 4 rings, 5 rings and 6 rings) by varying pressure (200–510 bar), temperature (50–150 °C), extraction fluid volume (10–50 ml), and the methanol modifier concentration (0–10%). Using a five level spherical factorial experimental design the number of experiments required for optimisation was 45. In spiked soil samples extraction efficiencies of 80–100% were achieved for the individual groups of PAHs. At the optimal set of conditions 10–30% lower recoveries of PAHs were obtained for the standard reference material NIST SRM 1941a (marine sediment). The largest differences between extraction recoveries of native and spiked PAHs occurred at high molecular weight PAHs. Using SFE efficiency data for the standard reference material, cluster analysis proved that dividing the 16 PAHs into four groups according to their number of aromatic rings was appropriate and correct. Received: 2 February 1996/Revised: 26 November 1996/Accepted: 30 November 1996     

Application of the high-resolution low temperature spectrofluorometry to analysis of PAHs in lake sediments, marine intertidal sediments and organisms

Summary This study presents an application of high-resolution low temperature spectrofluorometry (Shpol'skii effect) to quantitative analysis of PAHs in lake sediments, marine intertidal sediments and marine organisms. The main characteristics of the analytical computerized set-up are developed and show the selectivity, the sensitivity and the high speed of the experimental procedure, necessary for routine analysis of hydrocarbon traces. A correlation assay between PAHs distribution in sediments of an Alpine lake and that determined in vehicle exhaust emissions weighted from the accurate representation of the total number of passenger cars in France has been studied. We also present an investigation of concentration profiles and PAHs distributions in intertidal sediments and biota bivalves in the Gulf of Kuwait.     

INFLUENCE OF ANIONIC SURFACTANTS ON THE EXTRACTION RATE OF LACTIC ACID BY ALAMINE 336

Extraction rates of lactic acid from aqueous solutions using Alamine 336 dissolved in toluene have been studied by the single drop technique. Interfacial tensions as a function of extractant concentration and initial extraction rates as a function of lactic acid and Alamine 336 concentrations are repotted. Assuming the extraction takes place by an interfacial reaction mechanism, a mass transfer model is proposed for lactic acid reactive extraction. The model assumes a mixed regime, in which the slow diffusion transport of the amine extractant to die inner drop interface, and its protonation at the interface are the rate controlling steps. The influence of a synthetic anionic surfactant, sodium n-dodecyl sulphate, on the extraction process has been also studied. For surfactant concentrations above the specific CMC (critical micelle concentration), the surfactant increases the overall mass-transfer rate up to 40%. The surfactant influence on the extraction kinetics is described on the basis of increasing the interfacial potential and the resulting rise of the proton concentration at the interface.     

Validation of a fluidized-bed extraction method for solid materials for the determination of PAHs and PCBs using certified reference materials

In recent years, the classical Soxhlet extraction of PAHs and PCBs from matrices such as soil, sediments, sludges and related matrices has been substituted by faster and less-solvent-consuming automated techniques. This paper describes the performance characteristics of fluidized-bed extraction (FBE), which has been compared to other approaches and been optimized using a quality control material.SI-traceable reference materials from the European Commission have been used to validate the developed method and establish an analytical protocol. Good correlations with Soxhlet extraction were observed and certified values of the CRMs used, could be confirmed in all cases.     

Equilibrium partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cloud point extraction with a silicone surfactant

In the cloud point extraction (CPE) process with PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone, the flexible chain structure of the silicone surfactant efficiently decreased the water content remaining in the surfactant-rich phase, compared with conventional nonionic surfactants, represented by Triton X-114. Meanwhile, the phase volume ratio of surfactant-rich phase to aqueous phase obtained in the silicone surfactant CPE system was found to be maintained at a low value with increasing surfactant concentration; whereas a rapid increase tendency was commonly observed in that of other nonionic surfactants. Based on these advantages, the equilibrium partition of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene, was studied in the CPE process with PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone. Equilibrium parameters, including preconcentration factor, distribution coefficient and recovery, were determined, and the performance was compared with that of another related CPE research, where Tergitol 15-S-7 was used. Due to the low surfactant-rich phase volume, higher concentrations of the three PAHs in the surfactant-rich phase, and the resulting higher preconcentration factors and distribution coefficients were able to be achieved at the same time. Moreover, the great performance was able to be maintained even at a high surfactant concentration or PAHs initial concentration.     

Micro-focused ultrasonic solid-liquid extraction (muFUSLE) combined with HPLC and fluorescence detection for PAHs determination in sediments: optimization and linking with the analytical minimalism concept

Analytical minimalism is a concept that deals with the optimization of all stages of an analytical procedure so that it becomes less time, cost, sample, reagent and energy consuming. The guide-lines provided in the USEPA extraction method 3550B recommend the use of focused ultrasound (FU), i.e., probe sonication, for the solid–liquid extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs, but ignore the principle of analytical minimalism. The problems related with the dead sonication zones, often present when high volumes are sonicated with probe, are also not addressed. In this work, we demonstrate that successful extraction and quantification of PAHs from sediments can be done with low sample mass (0.125 g), low reagent volume (4 ml), short sonication time (3 min) and low sonication amplitude (40%). Two variables are here particularly taken into account for total extraction: (i) the design of the extraction vessel and (ii) the solvent used to carry out the extraction. Results showed PAHs recoveries (EPA priority list) ranged between 77 and 101%, accounting for more than 95% for most of the PAHs here studied, as compared with the values obtained after soxhlet extraction. Taking into account the results reported in this work we recommend a revision of the EPA guidelines for PAHs extraction from solid matrices with focused ultrasound, so that these match the analytical minimalism concept.     

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of hydrocarbons in marine sediments: comparison with the Soxhlet extraction method

Microwave energy was applied to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and linear aliphatic hydrocarbons (LAHs) from marine sediments. The influence of experimental conditions, such as different extracting solvents and mixtures, microwave power, irradiation time and number of samples extracted per run has been tested using real marine sediment samples; volume of the solvent, sample quantity and matrix effects were also evaluated. The yield of extracted compounds obtained by microwave irradiation was compared with that obtained using the traditional Soxhlet extraction. The best results were achieved with a mixture of acetone and hexane ¶(1?:?1), and recoveries ranged from 92 to 106%. The extraction time is dependent on the irradiation power and the number of samples extracted per run, so when the irradiation power was set to 500 W, the extraction times varied from 6 min for 1 sample to 18 min for 8 samples. Analytical determinations were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet-visible photodiode-array detector for PAHs and gas chromatography (GC) using a FID detector for LAHs. To test the accuracy of the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique, optimized methodology was applied to the analysis of standard reference material (SRM 1941), obtaining acceptable results.     

Improved efficiency of extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material Diesel Particulate Matter (SRM 2975) using accelerated solvent extraction

The efficiency of extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with molecular masses of 252, 276, 278, 300, and 302 Da from standard reference material diesel particulate matter (SRM 2975) has been investigated using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) with dichloromethane, toluene, methanol, and mixtures of toluene and methanol. Extraction of SRM 2975 using toluene/methanol (9:1, v/v) at maximum instrumental settings (200 °C, 20.7 MPa, and five extraction cycles) with 30-min extraction times resulted in the following elevations of the measured concentration when compared with the certified and reference concentrations reported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): benzo[b]fluoranthene, 46%; benzo[k]fluoranthene, 137%; benzo[e]pyrene, 103%; benzo[a]pyrene, 1,570%; perylene, 37%; indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, 41%; benzo[ghi]perylene, 163%; and coronene, 361%. The concentrations of the following PAHs were comparable to the reference values assigned by NIST: indeno[1,2,3-cd]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and picene. The measured concentration of dibenzo[a,e]-pyrene was lower than the information value reported by the NIST. The measured concentrations of other highly carcinogenic PAHs (dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, and dibenzo[a,h]pyrene) in SRM 2975 are also reported. Comparison of measurements using the optimized ASE method and using similar conditions to those applied by the NIST for the assignment of PAH concentrations in SRM 2975 indicated that the higher values obtained in the present study were associated with more complete extraction of PAHs from the diesel particulate material. Re-extraction of the particulate samples demonstrated that the deuterated internal standards were more readily recovered than the native PAHs, which may explain the lower values reported by the NIST. The analytical results obtained in the study demonstrated that the efficient extraction of PAHs from SRM 2975 is a critical requirement for the accurate determination of PAHs with high molecular masses in this standard reference material and that the optimization of extraction conditions is essential to avoid underestimation of the PAH concentrations. The requirement is especially relevant to the human carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, which is commonly used as an indicator of the carcinogenic risk presented by PAH mixtures.