ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the numerous methods available for the chromatographic analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and highlights some of the recent advances. The analysis techniques have been grouped into sample preparation, supercritical fluid chromatography and extraction, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and miscellaneous techniques including thin layer chromatography and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Thin-layer chromatography is often used as a sample preparation method in PAH analysis, particularly when oil samples are involve. Supercritical fluid extraction has proven to be a powerful alternative to conventional liquid extraction methods used in environmental analysis. Supercritical fluid chromatography has been applied to extend the molecular weight range of PAHs normally separated by gas chromatography while reducing analysis times typical with high-performance liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography is the method of choice for high-resolution separation of complex PAH mixtures with moderate to low molecular weights. A recent review of the determination of PAHs by liquid chromatography has recently appeared.
