Validation of the analysis of the 15 + 1 European-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by donnor–acceptor complex chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet/fluorescence detection

The European Commission recommends to monitor the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) possessing both genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Since robust analytical methods specific for this set of European PAH are lacking, a new method for their analysis in food is proposed. The donnor–acceptor complex chromatography (DACC) is used as clean-up step and high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet/fluorescence detection (HPLC–UV/FLD) is used for detection and quantification. The method has been validated for analysis of PAH in oil and in dried plants and bears very good results for all compounds.