On-site determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and thermal desorption GC-MS

The identification and quantification of semi-volatile contaminants dissolved in water is currently done in laboratory after a sampling step. This procedure is not satisfactory first because risks of samples contamination and analytes losses remain, in particular when these are present in ultra-trace concentrations, and secondly because procedures are time-consuming. The coupling of the stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), a new device of extraction technique, and a new generation of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the field apparatus EM 640 S from Bruker, could be an answer to the challenge of on-site analysis. This analytical system was used to analyze 24 PAHs, among them 15 EPA priority pollutants. It was shown that this coupling led to encouraging results with LODs around the sub-ppt level for most of the compounds and R.S.D. included between 1 and 48%. The existence of competition phenomena between the various analytes inside the absorbent phase was demonstrated with the release (up to 80%) of light compounds. This result shows the necessity to work on the kinetic domain rather than on the thermodynamic equilibrium that is influenced by nature and concentration of other compounds. The matrix effects were also studied through the comparative analysis of ultrapure water, artificial and natural seawaters spiked with PAHs and the influence of ionic strength and particulate organic matter was investigated.