Determination of sensitivity limit in quantative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Gc-ms

The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for 16 individual PAHs from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) list (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene antrachene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h) anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene) were determined by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Determination was performed by SCAN (digital linear scanning) and SIM (selected ion monitoring) techniques preceded by the optimization of the experimental factors. The limit of detection obtained by the SCAN technique was in the range of 0.179 – 15.236 ng, and the quantitation limit in the range of 1.017 – 50.788 ng. SIM technique enabled LOD and LOQ in the range of 0.036 – 13.886 pg and 0.119 – 46.287 pg respectively.