Validation of a fluidized-bed extraction method for solid materials for the determination of PAHs and PCBs using certified reference materials

In recent years, the classical Soxhlet extraction of PAHs and PCBs from matrices such as soil, sediments, sludges and related matrices has been substituted by faster and less-solvent-consuming automated techniques. This paper describes the performance characteristics of fluidized-bed extraction (FBE), which has been compared to other approaches and been optimized using a quality control material. SI-traceable reference materials from the European Commission have been used to validate the developed method and establish an analytical protocol. Good correlations with Soxhlet extraction were observed and certified values of the CRMs used, could be confirmed in all cases. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.