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Title: Rapid, semimicro method for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in shellfish by automated gel permeation/liquid chromatography

Journal Article · · J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5190105

A simple, rapid, easily automated method is described for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in shellfish such as American lobster (Homarus americanus) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). PAHs are extracted from small amounts (1-8 g) of tissue by saponification in 1N ethanolic potassium hydroxide followed by partitioning into 2,2,4-trimethylpentane. This solution is evaporated just to dryness by rotary evaporation and the residue is dissolved in cyclohexane-dichloromethane (1 + 1) for gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on Bio-Beads SX-3. The GPC procedure is ideal as a screening, method in the range 25-18,000 ng PAHs/g tissue. Measurements are required, the appropriate GPC fraction is collected and PAHs are separated by reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorometric detection. Individual PAHs at concentrations as low as 0.25-10 ng/g can be determined. Recoveries of added fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(e)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene were quantitative, with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.0 to 16.9%.

Research Organization:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia
OSTI ID:
5190105
Journal Information:
J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 69:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English