Three different stationary phases were investigated for the analysis of the 15 +1 EU-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by GC-MS. In addition to the most commonly used 5% phenyl methylpolysiloxane, a midpolar phase (50% phenyl methylpolysiloxane) and a recently commercialised mid-polar to polar phase (Optima® d-6), were evaluated. Challenging groups of PAHs in terms of separation such as the pair dibenz[a,h]anthracene-indeno[1,2,3,-cd]pyrene, and the two groups benzo[b]fluoranthene-benzo[k]fluoranthene-benzo[j]fluoranthene and cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-benz[a]anthracene-chrysene were satisfactorily separated by using the midpolar phase. Moreover, discrimination usually observed for the heaviest target PAHs was reduced without compromising the resolution of the other target analytes when applying the mid-polar phase in a tailor made column geometry in combination with optimised chromatographic conditions. A significant enhancement of the analytical sensitivity for dibenzopyrenes is demonstrated with an almost threefold increase of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, the last eluting PAH. The ability of the selected column to separate potentially interfering PAHs from the target analytes is demonstrated.

GOMEZ RUIZ Jose Angel;  WENZL Thomas; 

2009-03-09

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

JRC47966

1618-2642,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC47966,   

10.1007/s00216-008-2585-8,