New approach for screening polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant environmental pollutants.
• Accurate detection of PAHs in water is crucial for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a combined solid-phase extraction (SPE) and room-temperature phosphorimetry (RTP) method.
• To determine 16 US EPA-regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental water samples.

Main Methods:

• Solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample pre-concentration.
• Room-temperature phosphorimetry (RTP) for sensitive detection.
• Optimization of excitation wavelength and use of phosphorescence enhancers (TlNO3 and SDS).

Main Results:

• Achieved pre-concentration factors enabling linear dynamic ranges at the parts-per-billion (ng/mL) level.
• Established limits of detection at the parts-per-trillion (pg/mL) level.
• Demonstrated no interference from common water pollutants like PCBs, pesticides, and VOCs.

Conclusions:

• The combined SPE-RTP technique is a sensitive and selective method for PAH determination.
• This approach shows significant potential for screening PAHs in environmental waters.
• The method offers a robust solution for monitoring critical water pollutants.