Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 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
Extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from polyhydroxyalkanoates before gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Chiara Cavaliere1, Carmela Maria Montone1, Anna Laura Capriotti1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Among the organic contaminants that could pass from waste to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), there are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). For this reason, we have developed a rapid analytical method for the determination of sixteen PAHs in PHAs. PAHs were extracted by n-hexane, after matrix dispersion and crumbling into sand; the extract was purified by solid phase extraction using florisil as adsorbent. Recoveries in the range of 89-101% were obtained for the deuterated analytes, except for the two with the lowest molecular weight. Trueness between 92% and 108% and within-laboratory precision (expressed as relative standard deviation) ≤ 18% were estimated for all the analytes. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for analyte determination. Method limits of quantification were suitable to assure that PAH presence in PHA biolpolymers is much below the limits set by European law for plastic materials. Indeed, analysis of two different PHA samples showed that contamination is limited to few compounds at non-concerning levels.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)
A gas chromatograph consists of a long, narrow capillary column with a polysiloxane coating on the inner wall....
Mass Spectrometry: Aromatic Compound Fragmentation
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Anions: Structural Overview
Due to the absence of continuous...
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group...
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Gas Chromatography: Introduction
In GC, a sample is vaporized and mixed with an inert carrier gas (the mobile phase), which transports it through a...

