Comparison of SFE, ASE, and soxhlet extraction procedures for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with airborne particulate matter

Abstract

The efficiencies of three different extraction procedures including supercritical fluid extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, and soxhlet for extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from airborne particulate matter were investigated. Although the results obtained from the three methods and especially ASE and SFE were very close to each other, SFE was found as the most effective method for extraction of PAHs from airborne particulate matter. The effect of temperature on the efficiency of extraction of PAHs by SFE was also investigated and showed that the extraction efficiency can be improved by performing the extraction at higher temperatures.