The following compounds are listed by UNEP to be POPS: • Pesticides: Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, and Toxaphene • Industrial chemicals: Hexachlorobenzene, and PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) • Chemical by-products (Dioxins): Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD and PCDF) This application note describes methods and results for extraction of the POPs listed above, with tables comparing ASE to traditional extraction methods.

The EPA Methods 8260 and 8270 are the basis of the sample preparation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and PCBs in surface and ground water. The SPE method described in this Application Brief (AB) also recovers these compounds along with 1,4-Dioxan.

Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) uses solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures to extract organic materials from solid and semisolid samples in a fraction of the time required by traditional extraction procedures. This Application Note details procedures for extracting the following contaminants from animal tissues: Dioxins/Furans, Polybrominated Flame Retardants (PBDE), PCBs, pesticides, PAHs, and organo-tin.

ASE is an automated extraction technique that uses traditional liquid solvents at elevated pressure and temperature. The extraction is performed at temperatures higher than the atmospheric pressure boiling point of the solvent. High temperature substantially increases solvation kinetics and the high pressure ensures that the solvent remains a liquid. This application note provides full details of the extraction parameters and a comparison of ASE and Soxhlet extraction results.

Accelerated solvent extraction is an established technique to efficiently extract contaminants in solid and semisolid sample matrices with less solvent and time. Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are considered toxic and carcinogenic, and therefore classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Typically, PAHs and PCBs are extracted separately, using different solvent combinations. Our study demonstrates extraction of PAHs and PCBs using a single method from spiked mussel and from a soil spiked with a standard reference materials (SRMs).