Volcanic ashes as a source for nitrated and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution

GUIÑEZ, MARÍA; ESCUDERO, LUIS; MANDELLI, ALEJANDRO; MARTINEZ, LUIS D.; CERUTTI, SOLEDAD

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Año: 2020

0944-1344

In this study, a novel, simple and highly sensitive analytical procedure for the quantitative evaluation of oxygenated and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in volcanic ash samples based on dispersive solid?liquid microextraction (DSLME) coupled to ultra high-performance liquid chromatography?tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed. Diverse chemometric tools were applied to optimize DSLME working conditions. Thus, a linear calibration curve for all the target analytes in the concentration range from 0.01 to 100 µg g-1 (r2> 0.994) was obtained. The limits of detection for all the compounds were between 14.6 to 56.0 pg g−1, with high reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 8.1 % for all the analytes). Additionally, recoveries ranged from 94.2% to 100%. The applicability of the method was evaluated and the feasibility of the existence of nitrated and oxygenated-PAHs in volcanic ashes at ultra-trace levels was demonstrated, which reveals an unknown source of distribution of these pollutants to the environment.