A Needle Trap Device Packed with Nanoporous Silica Sorbents for Separation and Gas Chromatographic Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soils

SBA-15 and MCM-41 nanoporous silica sorbents were synthesized and functionalized by amine groups and used, for the first time, for packing a needle trap device (NTD). The characteristics of the synthesized SBA-15 and MCM-41 sorbents were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy. The NTD coupling to gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was carried out to extract and determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soil samples. The performances of the sorbents for the extraction of PAHs were compared under identical conditions and the NH2-SBA-15 sorbent showed superior results. Extraction temperature, extraction time, recycling gas flow rate, sample moisture, desorption time and desorption temperature were evaluated and optimized for the system. Under the optimum conditions, detection limits of 0.0004-0.0035 mu g g(-1), quantitation limits of 0.001-0.01 mu g g(-1) and relative standard deviations of 7.4-14.9% were obtained for the PAHs. The results showed the more effectiveness of this sorbent for the extraction of the PAHs compared to that of a commercial sorbent. The method was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of PAHs in polluted soil samples collected from gas stations, with recoveries ranging from 64 to 112%.