Regulatory limits on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water demand highly sensitive and rapid analytical methods. In this application note, we describe the use of HiSorb high-capacity sorptive extraction probes, in combination with Centri 90 preconcentration trapping technology, to detect PAHs at low-ppt concentrations in various water samples, with excellent reproducibility and quantitative analysis up to 300 ppt. The method is fully automated, with parallel processing of samples to ensure high throughput, and with hydrogen carrier gas chosen in this case to keep GC run times as short as possible.
Introduction
PAHs are semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) with toxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic properties that are emitted into the atmosphere by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and vehicle emissions, as well as by natural events such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions. Once in the air they enter waterways via deposition and rainfall runoff and then persist there. Waterborne PAHs therefore pose a long-term environmental hazard, as well as a risk to human health should they enter drinking water supplies. As such, levels of PAHs in both environmental and drinking waters are monitored and regulated across the globe. For example, the EU directive 2020/2184 stipulates a maximum of 100 ng/L for the sum of several PAHs in drinking water, and 10 ng/L for the particularly carcinogenic PAH benzo[a]pyrene.
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