DETERMINATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) using fluorescence detection is a powerful analytical technique for the measurement of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been involved in the development Of LC methods for the measurement of PAHs since the mid-1970's particularly for the development of standard reference materials (SRMs) for PAH measurements in environmental samples. The NIST experience in the use of LC for the determination of PAHs in environmental samples is summarized in this paper including: selection of the appropriate column, approaches to analyzing complex PAH mixtures, and the accurate quantitation of PAHs in environmental samples.