title: Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pine needles by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: comparison of different extraction and clean-up procedures.
abstract: Three extraction methodologies (Soxhlet, ultrasonic and pressurized liquid extraction) and several clean-up procedures (Florisil, silica and alumina in cartridges or glass column format) were tested and compared to extract 16 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Pinus pinea L. needles. Quantification was done by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, by internal standard method using five deuterated PAH surrogate standards. Among the several extraction and clean-up procedures tested, ultrasonic extraction followed by alumina cartridge clean-up was the preferred method, yielding recoveries between 72 and 100% and limits of detection between 0.22 and 0.71 ng/g dry weight. The performance of the method was tested to determine PAHs in naturally contaminated samples.
authors.affiliation: LEPAE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ratola
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacorte
authors.forename: Arminda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
mesh_terms: D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013030:Spain; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons