Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment reference materials by microwave-assisted extraction

The microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from harbor sediment reference material EC-1, marine sediment reference material HS-2 and PAH-spiked river bed soil was conducted. The extraction conditions for EC-1 were carried out at 70°C and 100°C under pressure in closed vessels with cyclohexane–acetone (1:1), cyclohexane–water (3:1), hexane–acetone (1:1), and hexane–water (3:1) for 10 min. A comparison between MAE and a 16-h Soxhlet extraction (SX) method showed that both techniques gave comparable results with certified values. MAE has advantages over the currently used Soxhlet technique due to a faster extraction time and lower quantity of solvent used. The consumption of organic solvent of the microwave method was less than one-tenth compared to Soxhlet.