Microwave-assisted extraction as an alternative to Soxhlet, sonication, and supercritical fluid extraction

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), Soxhlet, soni cation, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were compared in their ability to extract 95 compounds listed in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 8250. Freshly spiked soil samples and 2 standard reference materials were extracted with hexane-acetone (1 + 1) by MAE and Soxhlet extraction, with methylene chloride-acetone (1 + 1) by sonication extraction, and with supercritical carbondioxide modified with 10% methanol by SFE. Results indicate that MAE is a promising extraction technique. Of 94 compounds for which we are reporting data, 51 compounds gave MAE recoveries of >80%; 33,50-79%; 8,20-49%; and 2, 80%; 32,50-79%; 8,20-49%; and 4, 80%; 25,50-79%; 4,20-49%; and 2, 80%; 37, 50-79%; 12,20-49%, and 8,