[Hmim]PF6 enhanced the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil with the QuEChERS method

• Published in: Arabian journal of chemistry Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 4102 - 4110
• Main Authors: Liu, Qianjun, Tang, Jiepeng, Chen, Di, Zhou, Yangmei, Lin, Qintie, Ma, Xiaoguo, Zhang, Min, Hu, Huawen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: [Hmim]PF6; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; QuEChERS; Soil; [Hmim]PF6; Soil; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; QuEChERS
• ISSN: 1878-5352; 1878-5379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2019.06.009

[Display omitted] To detect, identify, and quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into the environment, the PAHs need to be isolated from the soil matrix. In this work, a modified quick, easy, cheap, efficient, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method with ionic liquid was combined with liquid chromatography to identify 16 selected PAHs in soil. Ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Hmim]PF6) was applied as an extractant component to enhance the process. The [Hmim]PF6 content in acetonitrile (ACN) was optimized. The [Hmim]PF6 modified QuEChERS method has the advantages defined by its name and a similar recovery to other extraction methods reported in the literature. Adding [Hmim]PF6 may eliminate the co-extract proportion and achieve a more effective extraction. Compared with ACN alone, the matrix effect (ME) of ACN containing 5% [Hmim]PF6 was reduced by approximately 35%. Additionally, the ME of using ACN containing [Hmim]PF6 without a clean-up procedure was similar to that of using ACN followed by a clean-up procedure. The recoveries of the QuEChERS method implemented with [Hmim]PF6 ranged from 75.19% to 100.98%. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.86 to 4.51 µg/kg and from 2.87 to 15.13 µg/kg, respectively.