Strategic sample composition in the screening of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water samples using liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

The screening of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples by means of the strategic sample composition (SSC) technique is presented. SSC uses especial supersaturated composition matrices to perform sample composition and analysed the results obtained in the analytical determination of these composite samples by means of evolutionary assisted regression procedures providing estimations of the concentration levels of analytes in each individual sample specimen. Here, 12 composite samples were prepared by departing from 26 water sample specimens, five of which were spiked with known amounts of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These composite samples were analysed by HPLC using fluorescence detection. Concentration levels spiked were, in some cases clearly higher than allowed limits for drinking waters, whereas in other cases are just in the limit or even down these limits. The study shows the ability of SSC to detect the really contaminated samples and guiding the analyst in taking the adequate decisions.