Sensitive determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples using monolithic capillary solid-phase extraction and on-line thermal desorption prior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A methacrylate-based monolithic capillary column has been evaluated for the preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from environmental water samples. For this purpose, the monolyte was in situ synthesized in a 6 cm × 0.32 mm id fused-silica capillary. The microextraction unit was fitted to a micro-HPLC pump to pass 10 mL of sample. The isolated pollutants were eluted by means of 10 μL of methanol, the organic phase being directly collected in a specific interface that can be fitted to the injection port of the gas chromatograph without modification. The interface allows the on-line thermal desorption of the PAHs, avoiding the dilution and providing enough sensitivity to reach the legal limits established for these pollutants in the matrices selected. The limits of detection achieved for 10 mL of water ranged between 2.8 ng/L (indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene) and 11.5 ng/L (acenaphthene) with acceptable precision (between 4.5 and 18.2% RSD). The method was applied to the determination of the selected PAHs in tap, river waters and sewage, being fluoranthene and pyrene detected in all of them at concentrations lower than the legal limits established for these compounds in the matrices assayed.