Stirring bar sorptive extraction in the determination of PAHs in drinking waters

The application of a new extraction technique which is known as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector, was assessed for determining eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. The extraction conditions such as acetonitrile addition; effects of temperature and salt; and finally, extraction and desorption time profiles were studied. Once SBSE was optimized, analytical method parameters such as linearity (r(2)>0.991), precision (<9%), detection (0.5-7.3 ng/L) and quantitation (1.0-22 ng/L) limits were estimated. To correct for the 43-57% absolute recovery depending on the PAH, calibration was done with a line obtained submitting standard-spiked blank tap waters to the complete sample treatment and analysis. Consequently, relative recovery was about 100% because all water samples (those for calibration purposes and those for recovery estimation) were processed in the same way and the absolute recovery remained constant. SBSE method characteristics were checked with the analysis of real drinking waters in the search for PAHs.