Determination of pah in soil samples by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)

A thin-layer Chromatographic screening-method is presented for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil samples. This screening method is intended for a quick overview of the composition of a contaminant. The developed method of separation is well suited for the semi-quantitative determination of PAH in soil samples, and can be used to identify samples that require further analysis by means of GC or HPLC. The separation of 8 PAH groups with a maximum of 2 PAH (discernible by selective excitation of fluorescence) each is possible. The results of the analysis based on PAH group separation can be regarded as semi-quantitative. The extraction of PAH is effected by means of a solvent mixture consisting of n-hexane-acetone (1:1, v/v). The extraction is aided by ultrasonic treatment. The extract is purified by application to an activated silica gel column (solid-phase extraction). The qualitative analysis can be carried out either by visual observation or by fluorimetric scanning (TLC-Scanner). The characteristic fluorescent colours facilitate a reliable visual identification of PAH. The applicability of the method is shown and a comparison to other analytical methods is carried out. Some of the remarkable features of this method are its user-friendly handling, the low consumption of solvents and the applicability without the necessity for extra equipment.