Determination of dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in river

This study shows the sensitivity of using silicone rubber passive sampler (SR-PS) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) detection for monitoring and identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water systems. The analysis was performed for eighteen PAHs compounds after pre-concentration using Soxhlet extraction method. By comparison, a total of 13 PAHs were detected in the spot water samples, of which none was quantifiable. The freely dissolved PAH concentrations were found to range from 0.17 ng/L to 0.76 ng/L at Ugieriver. The use of fluorine d10 as Performance reference compound(PRC) gives a sampling rates of 8.14 (L/day) for silicone rubber passive samplers. Analysis of PAHs concentrations suggest the contaminants are mainly from pyrolytic sources. Overall it can be concluded that SR-PS are viable alternatives in the environmental monitoring of PAHs.