PAH Testing

Columbia Analytical offers PAH testing (polynuclear or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in air, water, soil, sediment, tissue, industrial products, and food. The analytical procedures use various laboratory techniques and instrumentation, including Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), depending on the sample matrix and project requirements.

GC/MS is the preferred procedure due to superior selectivity and sensitivity over the HPLC method. Reporting limits vary with the technique and instrumentation. Trace level analyses are possible with the use of GC/MS in the Selective Ion Monitoring (GC/MS-SIM) mode. Typical reporting levels are listed in the table below. Lower reporting levels may be achieved by adjusting the analysis design.

Liquid (aqueous) samples are extracted using traditional liquid-liquid solvent extraction techniques such as continuous liquid/liquid or separatory funnel. Sample cleanup procedures may be used prior to instrumental analysis of aqueous samples.

Solid samples (soil/sediment, etc) are extracted using various liquid-solid extraction techniques. Sample cleanup procedures are typically employed to reduce sample matrix interferences prior to instrumental analysis. This is common to sediment analysis and the analysis of complex waste or solid samples. The procedures used include Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) cleanup and/or silica gel clean up.
Tissue samples require homogenization before analysis to ensure representative sampling for each analytical sub-sample. Most projects involving tissue samples have defined, project-specific, homogenization procedures that must be followed. After homogenization, tissue samples are then extracted and cleanups performed similar to those used on solid samples.

Air samples are analyzed by EPA TO-13 (high volume or low volume PUFs), NIOSH 5515 or California Air Resource Board (CARB) 425, depending on the project requirements. Reporting limits for these methods are between 0.5 and 5 µg/sample.

In addition to the PAHs typically analyzed, analysis for the associated PAH alkylated homologs is also available by GC/MS-SIM using specialized detection and quantitation procedures. The inclusion of alkylated homologs may be applied to the forensic aspects of the PAH determinations as it provides the connection to the source of the PAHs.

View the Gulf Oil Spill Extended PAH list...

Learn more about PAH Testing in Shellfish...

Learn about analytical chemistry support for the Gulf Oil Spill...

Learn about the Laboratory Testing for the Gulf Oil Spill...