Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis is a quantitative
technique used for the determination of PAHs (parent compounds
and homologues) in extracts of sediment, water, and tissue.
PAH analysis is performed using gas chromatography / mass
spectrometry (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode.
Method detection limits for PAHs
using this method are extremely low (< 0.5 ng/dry g for
sediment, < 10 ng/L for water ,and < 10 ng/wet g for tissue).
The GC is temperature programmed, operated in splitless
mode, and carrier flow is by electronic pressure control.
The capillary column is a J&W DB-5MS© (60
m long by 0.25 mm ID and 0.25 mm film thickness) or
equivalent. The data acquisition system allows continuous
acquisition and storage of all data during analysis and
is capable of displaying ion abundance versus time or scan
number.
A sample batch is analyzed as an analytical set including
samples along with the following specified quality control
samples: method-blank, matrix-spike, duplicate, matrix-spike
duplicate, and standard reference material.
A calibration curve is established by analyzing each of
five calibration standards (analyte concentrations ranging
from 0.02 to 1 mg/mL) and determining a relative response
factor (RRF) for each analyte. Calibration check standards
are interspersed throughout an analytical batch in order
to insure the instrument’s integrity. A diluted oil standard
is used as a retention index solution for compounds not
found in the calibration solution. Analyte concentrations
are determined using the internal standard method and analyte
concentrations are corrected for surrogate recovery.
