Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Marine Sediments and GC-MS Analysis

Abstract

The application of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to the extraction of PAHs from marine sediments is described. Extraction efficiency was optimized by varying the extraction time, temperature and by using modified carbon dioxide. Results showed that SFE using CO₂ modified with 10% methylene chloride was more efficient than Soxhlet extraction for all PAHs. The extracted materials were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method was used in the extraction of PAHs from both the certified materials and marine sediments sampled in the gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy).

Key Words:

• Supercritical fluid extraction
• PAHs
• marine sediments
• GC-MS