Extraction of PCDDs from Marine Sediments Using Polyoxyethylene 10 Lauryl Ether and Oligoethylene Glycol Monoalkyl Ether Surfactants

Abstract

In this study, the microwave assisted micellar extraction (MAME) methodology has been optimised to extract and determine a mixture of nine polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDD) from marine sediments. This is a very efficient extraction procedure which considerably reduces the volume of extractant to be used and the analysis time. The PCDDs under study have been extracted using the non‐ionic surfactants polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POLE) and oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X‐080), which are biodegradable, meaning that the toxical effects of the method have been avoided. The optimal extraction variables, such as surfactant and salt concentration, together with the radiation time and microwave power, were determined for each surfactant and then compared. To get the benefit of the properties that non‐ionic surfactants possess, in order to obtain a better signal of the analytes under study, the Genapol X‐080 extracts were then preconcentrated using the cloud‐point methodology, and analysed by liquid chromatography with UV detection system under the optimised conditions. The proposed method was applied to marine sediment samples from Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura islands (Canary Islands, Spain). The results were then compared with those obtained using the traditional Soxhlet extraction methodology.

Keywords:

• Polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether
• Genapol X‐080
• PCDD
• Microwave assisted micellar extraction

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funds provided by Autonomous Government of Canary Islands (Spain). Research Project No. PI2000/045 and Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. Research Project No. PPQ2002/04683.