2016 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 9-13
A novel method for the determination of semi-volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gaseous samples was developed using a partition-based extraction device. The target compounds were collected and concentrated on the basis of partitioning between air and octadecyl (C18) chains bound to macroporous silica particles. The extracted PAHs were rapidly desorbed by just passing 10 mL of acetone. The desorption solvent was then subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine PAHs. On the basis of the quantitative evaluation of the extraction and desorption conditions for 15 PAHs, the benefits of the partition-based extraction for typical airborne PAHs were clearly indicated. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied for the determination of PAHs in tobacco side-stream smoke.