Critical review of micro-extraction techniques used in the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biological, environmental and food samples.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and their accurate determination is very important to human health and environment safety. In this review, sorptive-based micro-extraction techniques [such as Solid-Phase Micro-extraction (SPME), Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE), Micro-extraction in Packed Sorbent (MEPS)] and solvent-based micro-extraction [Membrane-Mediated Liquid-Phase Micro-extraction (MM-LPME), Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Micro-extraction (DLLME), and Single Drop Micro-extraction (SDME)] developed for quantification of PAHs in environmental, biological and food samples are reviewed. Moreover, recent micro-extraction techniques that have been coupled with other sample extraction strategies are also briefly discussed. The main objectives of these micro-extraction techniques are to perform extraction, pre-concentration and clean up together as one step, and the reduction of the analysis time, cost and solvent following the green chemistry guidelines.