Extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from polyhydroxyalkanoates before gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis

Among the organic contaminants that could pass from waste to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), there are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). For this reason, we have developed a rapid analytical method for the determination of sixteen PAHs in PHAs. PAHs were extracted by n-hexane, after matrix...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Talanta (Oxford) 2018-10, Vol.188, p.671-675
Main Authors: Cavaliere, Chiara, Montone, Carmela Maria, Capriotti, Anna Laura, La Barbera, Giorgia, Piovesana, Susy, Rotatori, Mauro, Valentino, Francesco, Laganà, Aldo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopolymers
Florisil clean-up
Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Isotopic dilution
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Polyhydroxyalkanoates
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Summary:Among the organic contaminants that could pass from waste to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), there are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). For this reason, we have developed a rapid analytical method for the determination of sixteen PAHs in PHAs. PAHs were extracted by n-hexane, after matrix dispersion and crumbling into sand; the extract was purified by solid phase extraction using florisil as adsorbent. Recoveries in the range of 89–101% were obtained for the deuterated analytes, except for the two with the lowest molecular weight. Trueness between 92% and 108% and within-laboratory precision (expressed as relative standard deviation) ≤ 18% were estimated for all the analytes. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for analyte determination. Method limits of quantification were suitable to assure that PAH presence in PHA biolpolymers is much below the limits set by European law for plastic materials. Indeed, analysis of two different PHA samples showed that contamination is limited to few compounds at non-concerning levels. [Display omitted] •Development of a GC/MS method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biopolymers.•Optimization of solvent extraction of PAHs from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).•Extract clean-up by florisil solid phase extraction.•Analyses on two PHAs typologies revealed the presence of 8/16 PAHs.•Detected amounts were below the limits set by EU law for some plastic components.
ISSN:0039-9140
1873-3573
DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2018.06.038