Detection of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in PM_2.5

Objectives To determine 16 kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in inhalable particulate matter 2.5(PM_2.5). PAHs collected on the membrane were extracted by ultrasonic extraction method and were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet and fluorescence detector.

Methods Sample membrane pieces were put in 2.5 mL of acetonitrile and treated in ultrasonic extractor for 60 minutes to extract PAHs in PM_2.5. Using acetonitrile and water as mobile phase for gradient elution in HPLC; and setting relevant wavelength for ultraviolet and fluorescence detector before determination.

Results There was a good linearity in the range of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 μg/mL for all PAHs. The characteristic parameters of ultraviolet and fluorescence detector, such as detection limit, determination limit, relative standard deviation and recovery rate, could meet the requirement of experiment methodology.

Conclusions The extraction efficiency of ultrasonic extraction method was good for 16 kinds of PAHs in PM_2.5, which could meet the requirement of experiment methodology. This method could be used normally to detect 16 kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM_2.5.