A qualitative UV spectroscopic method as an initial guide to source origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A qualitative method is described, using ultraviolet spectroscopy, to determine the source origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in the environment. The technique takes advantage of the fact that aromatic compounds exhibit strong absorption in the ultraviolet region. It offers a fast and convenient alternative to other methods, which normally require extensive sample clean-up to avoid or limit interference from other materials during analysis. In contrast, this method requires only basic column chromatography to isolate the compounds of interest. Examples of the application of the technique are presented; the results are corroborated by those previously obtained by other methods.