Determination of synthetic musks in the sediment of the Taihu lake by using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and GC/MS

Synthetic musks, substitutes for natural musks, are widely distributed in environment. They have been detected in water, sludge, fish, shrimp, mussels and other aquatic animals, and even in human's adipose tissue, blood and breast milk. In this study, a new extraction procedure, based on the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and in cell clean-up technique was developed and successfully coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the analysis of musks in sediment samples. With this method, the limits of detection as low as 0.03–0.05?ng?g^?1 and the recovery rate of 86.0%–104% are achieved. When compared with soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasonic extraction (USE), ASE not only has the best extraction efficiency but also has advantage in extraction time and solvent consumption. Eight synthetic musks, including six polycyclic musks (Tonalide (AHTN), Galaxolide (HHCB), Phantolide (AHDI), Traseolide (ATII), Cashmeran (DPMI) and Celestolide (ADBI)) and two nitro musks (musk xylene (MX) and musk ketone (MK)), were evaluated in sediment samples collected from 15 selected locations of the Taihu lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. The contents of synthetic musks in sediment samples range from 0.336 to 3.10?ng?g^?1 for HHCB, 0.184 to 1.21?ng?g^?1 for AHTN, below detection limit (BDL) to 0.349?ng?g^?1 for MX, and BDL to 0.0786?ng?g^?1 for MK. The contents of DPMI, ADBI, AHMI and ATII are below detection limit in all samples. The results reflect current status of fragrance compound pollution in this area, and provide basic data for environmental policy making.