Use of Ce(IV) oxidizing agent for the derivatization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were oxidized with Ce(IV), and the resulting quinones were determined by reductive-mode liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. This oxidation is a rapid, automatable step, involving of Ce(IV) reagent to the PAH sample and cleaning up the derivative with C18 solid-phase extraction. Using a C18 analytical column and a 2-propanol-phosphate buffer as the mobile phase, detection limits were in the ppb range for naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene, with linearity over 3-5 orders of magnitude. Method validation was performed by addition of the PAHs to tap water and determining the levels by reference to a calibration curve. The three PAHs can be simultaneously derivatized and determined under the same chromatographic conditions. Analysis of a motor-oil sample is also shown.