Combination of micellar extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous media with detection by synchronous fluorescence

The application of different non-ionic surfactants for the micellar extraction and enrichment of PAHs from aqueous media was tested. Recoveries were up to 100%. A spectroscopic method for the simultaneous detection of PAH-mixtures by synchronous fluorescence in the micellar phase was developed, with detection limits of 6.8 and 2.6 ng/l for benzo(k)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene, respectively. The method was applied to the extraction and detection of benzo(k)fluoranthene/benzo(a)pyrene mixtures from aqueous solutions and soil suspensions. Genapol X-80 was found to suppress PAH-adsorption on bentonite at surfactant concentrations above 0.1%.