Integrated Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Selected Methods on Dried Fruit Matrices

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are groups of chemical substances commonly found in the environment. Because of large differences in the concentrations of PAHs and PCBs in the materials tested, separate analytical methods specific to each group of compounds are usually used. The aim of this study was to compare methods for the determination of PAHs and PCBs that permit the simultaneous determination of these compounds from one solvent extract. The analysis of the content of 15 PCB congeners and 16 PAHs was conducted using dried fruits. The analyses were performed with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. PAHs and PCBs were determined separately in each fruit sample using specific extraction and cleanup procedures for the respective groups of compounds. Analyses were also performed with two methods that permitted the simultaneous analysis of PAHs and PCBs in one solvent extract. The integrated methods did not provide adequate extract cleanup of interfering substances; consequently, the results of determinations of PAHs and PCBs using these methods were significantly different from the values obtained with proven determination methods for PAHs and PCBs.

Automated summary

This study aimed to compare methods for determining PAHs and PCBs in order to simultaneously analyze these compounds from one solvent extract. Dried fruits were used to analyze the content of 15 PCB congeners and 16 PAHs, using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Specific extraction and cleanup procedures were used for separate determination of PAHs and PCBs in each fruit sample. Two methods allowing simultaneous analysis of PAHs and PCBs in one solvent extract were also tested. However, the integrated methods did not provide sufficient extract cleanup, resulting in significantly different results compared to proven determination methods for PAHs and PCBs.