Method for multiresidue determination of halogenated aromatics and PAHs in combustion-related samples

Flue gas and fly ash samples have a complex composition. Thus, thorough extraction and selective cleanup prior to analysis are essential. This paper presents an evaluated method for determining halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PXDD), halogenated dibenzofurans (PXDF), chlorinated biphenyls (PCB), chlorobenzenes (CBz), -phenols (CPh), dibenzo-p-dioxins (DD), dibenzofurans (DF), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a single sample. Since these combustion byproducts are ubiquitous, harmful environmental contaminants it is very important to obtain reliable assessments of them: especially specific PCDD/F and PCB congeners with Ah-receptor mediated toxicity. The reported method for this purpose includes techniques such as solid-phase extraction, Soxhlet-Dean-Stark extraction, cleanup using open liquid chromatographic columns, and finally GC/MS analysis/determination with quantification by the isotope dilution technique. The validation results presented here show good reproducibility for PXDD/F and PCB and are satisfactory for CPh, CBz, and PAH. An extraction efficiency test revealed that a nonpolar solvent did not completely extract a few analytes, i.e., diCPh and fluorene, which appear to require a more polar extraction agent. To pinpoint and minimize the loss of analytes, specific studies on reductions of their amounts during sample concentration were performed, showing that traditional rotary evaporation and nitrogen blow-down produce equally good results as a novel technique.