Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particles using open-vessel focused microwave-assisted extraction

A procedure to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from airborne particles using open-vessel focused microwave-assisted extraction (FMAE) is proposed. Parameters which might affect extraction efficiency such as solvent composition, extraction time, microwave power, and sample water addition were investigated. Recoveries for PAHs from urban dust standard reference material (SRM) 1649a were between 77 and 116% with relative standard deviations between 2 and 18% on the basis of certified values by using an optimized condition: in a 20 ml 5% acetone in toluene at 150 W of microwave power for 20 min extraction. The optimized FMAE condition was compared to Soxhlet method on the extraction of standard reference material and real particulate air samples collected from urban area.