A rapid clean-up procedure for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in milk samples

In this paper, a new method for the isolation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in milk and other biological matrices is described. The method includes the use of Carbosphere activated carbon and alumina for the removal of fat and interfering compounds and subsequent analysis of the seventeen most toxic congeners by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at the low ppt-level. In comparison with previous methods, this method proved to be less laborious, effectively removes large amounts of fat (up to 10 g) and quantitatively recovers PCDDs and PCDFs (70–100%). Moreover, the method is highly reproducible and milk samples can be analysed with good accuracy.