Optimization of Soxtec Extraction for the Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Mussel and Comparison with Soxhlet Extraction,Accelerated Solvent Extraction,and Microwave Assisted Extraction

An on-line Soxtec extraction and cleanup method is optimized for PCBs determination in mussel samples. Soxtec extraction conditions have been optimized using two factorial designs. Optimized extraction parameters were sample weight, anhydrous sodium sulfate weight, solvent volume, alumina weight, and boiling and rinsing times. The results suggest that all PCBs congeners extracted by Soxtec appeared statistically affected by solvent volume. Soxtec quantitative recoveries (8– ?115%) were achieved for all PCBs and method precision (RSD <12%) was satisfactory. The optimized method is compared with three different applied extraction methods, Soxhlet, accelerated solvent extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. This latter presents the cleanup step on column or assisted by polypropylene membranes. The extraction effectiveness of the four different applied extraction methods for the determination of PCBs in mussel was similar.