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U.S. Department of Energy
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Determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and water by a magnetic particle-based enzyme immunoassay system

Conference ·
OSTI ID:276367
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Ohmicron Environmental Diagnostics, Newtown, PA (United States)
  2. North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND (United States)

Use of immunoassays as field-screening methods to detect environmental contaminants has increased dramatically in recent years. Immunochemical assays are sensitive, rapid, reliable, cost-effective and can be used for lab or field analysis. A magnetic particle-based immunoassay system has been developed for the quantitation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and water. Paramagnetic particles used as the solid-phase allow for the precise addition of antibody and nondiffusion limited reaction kinetics. The magnetic particle-based immunoassay is ideally suited for on-site investigation and remediation processes to delineate PAH contamination. This system includes easy-to-use materials for collection, extraction, filtration and dilution of soil samples prior to analysis by immunoassay. When analyzing water samples, a simple dilution of the sample with methanol is performed during sample collection. The method detects PAHs, including anthracene, chrysene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, at sub-parts-per-million levels in soil and at less than 1 ppb in water. The typical precision of the assay (within assay) in soil and water is less than 15% and 12%, respectively. Recovery studies (based on phenanthrene) from soil averaged 108%, and 107% from water. The analysis of soil samples by this ELISA correlate well with Method 8310, yielding a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.963; when water samples were compared to method 8270, a regression (r) of 0.987 was obtained. The application of this ELISA method permits the cost-effective evaluation of samples with minimal solvent disposal and can result in savings of time and money. The system`s flexibility allows the analysis of PAHs in many other sample matrices with minimum sample preparation.

OSTI ID:
276367
Report Number(s):
CONF-950209--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English