Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A Modified QuEChERS-HPLC Method for Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Fine Particulate Matter
Published on: June 13, 2025
A simple, comprehensive, and miniaturized solvent extraction method for determination of particulate-phase polycyclic
Aldenor G Santos1, Ana Carla D Regis1, Gisele O da Rocha1
1Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Química, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia INCT, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil; Centro Interdisciplinar em Energia e Ambiente - CIEnAm, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Abstract:
The method allowed simultaneous characterization of PAHs, nitro-PAHs and quinones in atmospheric particulate matter. This method employs a miniaturized micro-extraction step that uses 500 μL of an acetonitrile-dichloromethane mix and instrumental analysis by means of a high-resolution GC-MS. The method was validated using the SRM1649b NIST standard reference material as well as deuterated internal standards. The results are in good agreement with the certified values and show recoveries between 75% and 145%. Limit of detection (LOD) values for PAHs were found to be between 0.5 pg (benzo[a]pyrene) to 2.1 pg (dibenzo[a,h]anthracene), for nitro-PAHs ranged between 3.2 pg (1-nitrobenzo[e]pyrene) and 22.2 pg (3-nitrophenanthrene), and for quinones ranged between 11.5 pg (1,4-naphthoquinone) and 458 pg (9,10-phenanthraquinone). The validated method was applied to real PM10 samples collected on quartz fiber filters. Concentrations in the PM10 samples ranged from 0.06 to 15 ng m(-3) for PAHs, from
