Optimization and application of accelerated solvent extraction for rapid quantification of PCBs in food packaging materials using GC-ECD

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food packaging materials which contact with food directly or indirectly can migrate into the food and endanger the health of people. The detection of PCBs in food packaging materials is becoming increasingly essential. The method based on combining accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), sulfuric acid and silica gel column cleanup with gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was found to be simple and efficient for the determination of the levels of the pollutants in the assays. The calibration curves of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153, PCB180, PCB198 presented a good linearity in the range of 4–200 μg/L, the coefficients of variation and the limits of determination were in the range of 0.9982–0.9999 and 0.1828–0.3798 μg/L, respectively. The overall relative standard derivations were less than 4.11% and the average recoveries were in the range of 77.90%–100.08%. Compared with Soxhlet extraction method, the optimal ASE sample preparation can reduce analysis time and solvent consumption, and enable unequivocal identification and quantification.

► An optimal ASE sample preparation assisted method was proposed.
► This method was used to identify and quantify PCBs in multi-packaging materials.
► The optimal operation can reduce analysis time and solvent consumption.
► The identification and quantification of PCBs are exact and reliable.