COMPARISON OF EXTRACTION METHODS FOR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON DETERMINATION IN SEDIMENTS

Different sample preparation methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in lake and river sediments were compared and evaluated. Freeze-dried sediment materials were extracted using Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic agitation and digestion with various solvents and solvent mixtures. Similarly, clean-up methods using various types of sorbents for separation of PAHs tested. The following method gives the best results for the determination of PAHs: freeze-dried sediment samples were extracted using Soxhlet extractor with dichloromethane (6 hr, dark), extracts were cleanup using Silica gel and a mixture of n-hexa-ne-dichloromethane was used for the elution of PAHs. This method was used for the determination of 7 selected PAHs in sediment samples from Finnish lakes and Czech streams. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.