Extraction and preconcentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins using the cloud-point methodology: Application to their determination in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography

A new analytical method based on the cloud-point extraction (CPE) methodology combined with high-performance liquid chromatography is used in this study for the extraction and quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. These compounds are extracted by using the non-ionic surfactant polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) from different aqueous systems: fresh, brackish and sea waters. After the cloud-point extraction, which also allowed a preconcentration of the PCDDs being studied, the samples were analysed using a HPLC-UV system under the optimum chromatographic conditions. The proposed method showed very satisfactory recovery percentages for the PCDDs under study and standard deviation values lower than 2%.The results obtained were finally compared with those found using the traditional liquid-liquid extraction method.