AN352: Rapid Determination of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE)

Instrument Type: Automated Sample Prep

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.

AN323: Extraction of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans from Environmental Samples Using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE)

Instrument Type: Automated Sample Prep

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are toxic at low concentrations and therefore highly regulated. Additionally, these contaminants are difficult to extract. Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) is an equivalent extraction method for U.S. EPA Methods 3545. ASE uses solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures, thereby increasing the extraction efficiency while consuming small amounts of solvent at significantly less time. Here ASE has been used to extract PCDDs and PCDFs from ground chimney brick, urban dust, fly ash, and sediment samples.