ABSTRACT
In the context of the entire analytical process, pre-treatment of soil samples is often inadequately considered although the reliability of the results is definitely compromised if the sample is not properly prepared. In this paper, the effect of drying conditions in soil sample pre-treatment on the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been studied. A systematic approach has been adopted by varying soil type, drying temperatures and solvent polarity to highlight the effect on the analyte recovery; the relationship between PAH molecular structure and their evaporation process from soils is discussed. Experimental data demonstrate that, concerning temperature-assisted drying procedures, PAHs are divided in two distinct groups: PAHs lighter than pyrene, which are seriously affected by drying temperature; and heavier PAHs that can be considered as non-volatile compounds. For studies involving the analysis of lighter PAHs in environmental samples, working on as-received samples is necessary.
