SEDL / STP / STP686-EB / STP35012S

Determination of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Refinery Water Streams

Preston, HG
Chemists, Texaco Inc., Port Arthur, Tex

Macaluso, A
Chemists, Texaco Inc., Port Arthur, Tex

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1979

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Abstract

A procedure has been developed for the analysis of polynuclear aromatic (PAH) hydrocarbons in water samples at levels of 1 μg/litre (parts per billion). The method has been successfully applied to field samples and consists of (1) extracting a neutral fraction from water using methylene chloride, (2) concentrating the extract in a Kuderna-Danish evaporative concentrator, (3) isolation of a PAH fraction by thin-layer chromatography, and (4) quantitative analysis of individual compounds by HPLC. A variable-wavelength ultraviolet detector is used simultaneously with a fixed-wavelength (254 nm) detector to positively identify each PAH by means of peak height ratios at the different wavelengths. An alternate method for isolating and concentrating PAH from water samples was also evaluated. A large volume of water was passed through a column packed with a reverse phase packing, C¹⁸-bonded silica, and the organic components were eluted using an organic solvent. This fraction was then analyzed as before. The overall effectiveness of the method has been evaluated using spiked samples containing several standard PAH and the use of an internal standard, such as ¹⁴C-labeled benzo[a] pyrene or perylene, has been investigated.