Application of accelerated solvent extraction followed by gel performance chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mussel tissue

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.

Keywords:

• Accelerated solvent extraction
• ASE
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• mussel
• gel performance chromatography

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Escuela Valenciana de Estudios de Salud (EVES) de la Generalitat Valenciana.