Simultaneous analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in seawater samples by membrane-assisted solvent extraction combined with gas chromatography–electron capture detector and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• A highly efficient and environment-friendly MASE method was developed.
• The MASE was applied for seawater samples clean-up and pre-concentration of PCBs and OCPs.
• The MASE method exhibited the good analytical features.
• The MASE coupled to GC–ECD and GC–MS/MS was successfully used for detection of PCBs/OCPs in seawater.

A highly efficient and environment-friendly membrane-assisted solvent extraction system combined with gas chromatography–electron capture detector was applied in the simultaneous determination of 17 polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in seawater samples. Variables affecting extraction efficiency, including extraction solvent used, stirring rate, extraction time, and temperature, were optimized extensively. Under optimal extraction conditions, recoveries between 76.9% and 104.6% in seawater samples were achieved, and relative standard deviation values below 10% were obtained. The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) and limit of quantification (signal-to-noise ratio = 10) of 17 polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in seawater ranged from 0.14 ng L−1 to 0.36 ng L−1 and 0.46 ng L−1 to 1.19 ng L−1, respectively. Matrix effects on extraction efficiency were evaluated by comparing with the results obtained using tap water. The extraction effect of developed membrane-assisted solvent extraction method was further demonstrated by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry which can provide structural information of the analytes for more accurate identification, and results identical to those produced by gas chromatography–electron capture detector were obtained. These findings demonstrate the applicability of the developed membrane-assisted solvent extraction determination method for coupling to gas chromatography–electron capture detector or tandem mass spectrometry for determining polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in seawater samples.