Application of GC-triple quadrupole MS in the quantitative confirmation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalic acid esters in soil.

A new multi-residue method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of 34 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in soil at trace levels by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Microwave extraction and solid-phase extraction have been employed prior to gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Quality parameters have been established using matrix spike and reference material IRM 104A. Average recoveries of the 34 organic compounds spiked at 5 microg/kg into soils are typically in the range of 66.59-122.07% with relative standard deviations generally less than 20%. Limits of detection (LODs) for PAEs are < or = 0.84 microg/kg, and limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.13 to 2.81 microg/kg. LODs for PAHs are < or = 0.51 microg/kg, and LOQs ranged from 0.02 to 1.81 microg/kg.