title: Separation of PCBs and PAHs in sediment samples using silica gel fractionation chromatography.
abstract: The aim of this research is to develop a silica gel fractionation procedure for sediment sample extracts, which separates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into two groups, while simultaneously eliminating most interfering substances for subsequent instrumental analysis. This is achieved by optimizing the fraction cut-off volume of eluting solvent and the deactivation level of the silica gel. Using fully activated silica gel and cutting off PCB collection after passing 60-65 ml eluting solvent (pentane or hexane) through the column resulted in satisfactory separation of PCBs and PAHs. This procedure tends to have a higher reliability for PCBs and PAHs with higher molecular mass. This approach deviates only slightly from the standard methods of the USEPA, and it is less expensive due to reduced sample pre-treatment time and solvent consumption.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D058428:Silica Gel; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D058428:Silica Gel; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls