Extraction of polar and hydrophobic pollutants using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE)

Abstract

Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) shows higher recoveries for PAHs in comparison with traditional Soxhlet extraction, but in a fraction of time and with less solvent consumption. Better recoveries are especially achieved with PAHs of high reactivity, the latter being expressed by the structure-to-count ratio (SCR). To estimate polar pollutants including phenols/benzenediols, the sample was subjected to a combined in-situ derivatization/extraction approach using 2% v/v acetic anhydride in toluene. The main reason for the better recovery obtained in this way, in comparison with the classical ASE approach, is to overcome strong matrix-analyte interactions. Analogously, fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters obtained by in-situ derivatization/extraction using boron trifluoride.