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

Chiara Cavaliere, Carmela Maria Montone, Anna Laura Capriotti*, Giorgia La Barbera, Susy Piovesana, Mauro Rotatori, Francesco Valentino, Aldo Laganà

*Corresponding author for this work
9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTalanta
Volume188
Pages (from-to)671-675
Number of pages5
ISSN0039-9140
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2018

Keywords

  • Biopolymers
  • Florisil clean-up
  • Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
  • Isotopic dilution
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates

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