Abstract
A screening method of organic pollutants in soils has been developed. In this study, we combined a rapid preparation using microwave-assisted extraction and an automated identification and quantification system with a database for GC/MS, which can measure approximately 1000 semi-volatile organic compounds. A sample (3 g) was extracted with a solvent composed of 6 mL of hexane and 4 mL of water at a temperature of 120°C for 30 min. After that, the extract of hexane was cleaned-up with silica gel, NH2 and carbon adsorbent columns, and then applied to the GC/MS measurement. The total time required for our analytical procedure was approximately 4h. Compared with the conventional Soxhlet extraction method for a soil polluted by organochlorine pesticide, the concentration and the reproducibility by our screening method were comparable, the ratios of the total concentration were in the range of 89 – 138%, and the relative standard deviations were within 11%.
