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.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were developed in the early 1970s and are used as flame retardants for various consumer products, including clothing, furniture, and plastics. Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), introduced in 1995, was EPA approved under method 3545A and has proven to be a valuable technique for environmental laboratories. In this application note, PBDEs were extracted from human breast milk (freeze dried), sediments, fish tissues, and polymers using ASE.

Organotin compounds are a highly versatile group of organometallic chemicals used in industrial and agricultural applications. ASE systems are currently used to replace traditional extraction methods such as sonication and Soxhlet. Using an ASE system, extracts can be generated in much less time and using significantly less solvent than these traditional methods. ASE systems have been shown to provide better or equivalent recoveries compared to these techniques for compound classes covering a wide range of polarities and exhibiting both high and low levels of bonding to the matrix.

The use of ASE in the extraction of OPP compounds from solid wastes is a more convenient, faster, and less solvent-intensive method than previously available. OPP recoveries by ASE are equivalent to recoveries from Soxhlet and other methods. ASE also avoids the problem of multiple washing procedures associated with sonication. This method is applicable to the extraction of water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble organophosphorus pesticides in preparation for gas chromatographic measurements. This method is applicable to soils, solid wastes, and sediments containing 250–2500 μg/kg of OPPs.

The procedures described in this application note meet the requirements for sample extraction as determined by U. S. EPA Method 3545(A). This method is applicable to the extraction of water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble volatile and semivolatile compounds in preparation for GC/MS measurement. This method is applicable to soils, clays, wastes, and sediments containing from 250–12500 µg/kg of BNA compounds.