Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Analysis in Water

PAHs prove challenging to analyze due to properties such as wide molecular weight and boiling temperature ranges and their easy adherence to surfaces. PAH-containing matrices can also pose difficulties, such as in food or soil analyses where high-boiling contaminants may elute after the analytes and require extended bakeout times to prevent ghost peaks in later runs. By using the Agilent 5977 GC/MSD with JetClean and midcolumn backflush, PAHs can be analyzed in difficult matrices while maintaining good linearity, peak shape, and system robustness.

The EU and the US EPA require the analysis of 24 PAHs. Because levels of concern for PAHs can be as low as 1 ng/mL, a robust analysis method is required for accurate detection. Due to the presence of isomers, these PAHs can be chromatographically challenging. To optimize the separation of these 24 PAH compounds, the Agilent J&W Select PAH GC column has been modified with an aromatic selector. Using this column with an Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC, which provides high retention time stability, good resolution of these PAH compounds can be achieved.