Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical compounds that consist of fused aromatic rings and do not contain heteroatoms or carry substituents. PAHs occur in oil, coal, and tar produced by the carbonization of coal, but not in bitumen. They can also be found in grilled meat, cigarette smoke, and automobile exhaust. PAH are persistent, ubiquitous and some of them have carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. There are more than 100 PAHs, but the 16 defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the ones generally analyzed. These are acenaphtene, acenaphtylene, anthracene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi)jperylene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenz(ah)anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene. Benzo(a)pyrene is often used as a lead substance.
The determination of PAHs requires a solid-liquid extraction from the sample matrix prior to further analytical steps. Pressurized Solvent Extraction allows for extraction under elevated temperatures and pressures, offering more replicable results. Several publications are available regarding this topic. Below are some examples of interesting publications using BUCHI’s Pressurized Solvent Extraction equipment for the extraction of PAHs from sediment samples.
PAH occurrence in chalk river systems from the Jura region (France). Pertinence of suspended particulate matter and sediment as matrices for river quality monitoring
How flood events affect rainbow trout: Evidence of a biomarker cascade in rainbow trout after exposure to PAH contaminated sediment suspensions
M. Brinkmann, S. Hudjetz, U. Kammann, M. Hennig, J. Kuckelkorn, M. Chinoraks, C. Cofalla, S. Wiseman, J. P. Giesy, A. Schaffer, M. Hecke, J. W6lz, H. SchUttrumpf, H. Hollert
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/
Investigations on sediment toxicity of German rivers applying a standardized bioassay battery
C. Hafner, S. Gartiser, M. Garcia-Kaufer, S. Schiwy, C. Hercher, W. Meyer, C. Achten, M. Larsson, M. Engwall, S. Keiter, H. Hollert
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s113 | 
