Determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in aerosol by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrum

The optimum procedures for clean up aerosols in silica solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge prior to the analysis of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by gas chromatography–mass spectrum (GC–MS) in selected ion monitoring detection mode have been investigated. The silica SPE cartridge is activated by dichloromethane and hexane, and then dried up by vacuum in SPE instrument for about 5 min. The sample volume loaded on the cartridge is 3 ml and after loading the sample the cartridge was dried in vacuum for 5 min. The PAHs were eluted from the cartridge by 3 ml 20% dichloromethane in hexane. The flow-rate of sample loading and eluting was controlled in about 1 ml min−1. The aerosols collected on the campus of Beijing Normal University from August 2001 to July 2002 have been processed with these optimum procedures and 16 EPA priority pollution PAHs in the aerosols have been quantitatively determined.