Abstract
Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) has been evaluated as a fast alternative to methanolic saponification for the extraction of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from mussel tissue. Several solvent systems and different operating conditions were investigated. The mixture dichloromethane-acetone (1:1, v/v) gave the best recoveries at 125°C and 1500 psi, in a total time of 10 min. No yield difference was found between freeze-drying (Fd) or drying the wet mussel with diatomaceous earth (Ded) prior to extraction. The ASE method was validated using the standard reference material SRM 2977, a freeze-dried mussel tissue with naturally present organic contaminants. The performance characteristics of the ASE method (trueness: 70–110%; precision: 4–14% and limit of quantification (LOQ): 0.1–0.25 µg/kg) meet the criteria established by the European Union for quantitative methods of analysis for official control of organic residues and contaminants. ASE provides a 24 times faster extraction than MSE and reduces 12 times the volume of solvent required.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Escuela Valenciana de Estudios de Salud (EVES) de la Generalitat Valenciana.