Evaluation of three extraction methods for the isolation of PAHs from recycled paperboard materials intended for food contact applications

Abstract

The present work is part of a comprehensive study aiming to identify and quantify an array of harmful contaminants at very low concentrations in recycled paperboard materials intended for food contact applications. In this initial study, three commonly used extraction techniques were optimized and tested for their efficacy and accuracy in isolating 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three commercially available food packaging materials made from recycled paperboard. The techniques were Soxtec extraction (SE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The recoveries of all three methods were rather satisfactory; 10 out of 13 substances were recovered at rates between 70 and 124% using the SE method, 8 out of 13 substances were recovered at rates between 50 and 134% using the UAE method, and finally, 8 out of 13 substances were recovered at rates between 70 and 105% using the HS-SPME method. Regarding accuracy, the HS-SPME method gave the best results at 125 μg kg−1, as 7 out of 13 concentration values were within acceptable limits, while only five and four concentration values were within limits for the UAE and SE methods, respectively. Furthermore, the results of both the calculated RSD and HorRat values indicated that HS-SPME is more accurate for extracting PAHs than the other two methods.

Optimization of a simple, effective, and greener methodology for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extraction from human adipose tissue

“…To the authors' knowledge, UAE probe-type extraction has not yet been applied to the extraction of PAHs as the ultrasound bath type has. [22][23][24][25] However, the UAE probe-type has been used for the extraction of bioactive compounds, 8,26 allowing the successful recovery of analytes without compromising the quality of the extract.…”

Comparison and Optimization of Extraction Methods for The Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment from Blood River in Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…Various extraction methods of PAHs from sediments have been proposed and several studies have been conducted to compare the different extraction techniques [2,9,11,12]. The MAE, ultrasonication and combination of ultrasonication and mechanical shaking techniques were compared by evaluating the percentage recoveries of the 16 PAHs from CRM-104 as determined by GC-FID.…”

“…Conventional extraction methods like MAE, mechanical agitation, Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS), Soxhlet, and ultrasonication can be used to extract these chemicals from sediments [10,11]. Various extraction methods have been investigated in recent years to lower the amount of organic solvent used, as well as the overall extraction time and sample preparation [2,9,11,12].…”