Determination of Airborne Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by HPLC Using SPE-Type Collection Device

A solid-phase extraction-type collection device packed with Sunpak-H, styrene-divinylbenzene polymer particles, was used to identify 16 airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorescence detection and ultraviolet detector. The analytes were successfully collected with the collection device and quantitatively eluted using acetone as an elution solvent. The eluted PAHs were then separated by conventional HPLC and detected with a fluorescence or ultraviolet detector. The limit of detection of airborne PAHs was below 0.7 ng/m3 with an air sampling volume of 14,400 L. The relative standard deviations of the peak area were below 12%, and the method showed better repeatability than gas chromatographic analysis. The suitability of the method was confirmed by its application in identifying PAHs in tunnel and atmospheric air.