Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fat products by high pressure liquid chromatography

The method previously described by Gertz [1] for the extraction of 3,4-benzopyrene in meat- and fishproducts has been adapted for butter, margarine, edible oils and fats and extended to other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): 1,2-benzopyrene, 1,2,3,4-dibenzanthracene, 1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene and 1,12-benzoperylene. The isolated PAH are determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography on reversed-phase columns with detection by fluorimetry. Recoveries range from 76 to 85%. The detection limit varies between 0.10 and 0.90 ppb. By application of optimized analysis conditions the sensitivity can be increased to 0.01 ppb for each compound.