Rapid detection of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water by constant-wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry

Based on the advantages of the good selectivity and high sensitivity of the synchronous fluorescence method, an efficient method using constant-wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (CWSFS) for simultaneous and rapid determination of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (acenaphthene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]anthracene and fluoranthene) in drinking water was established in this study. When the difference in wavelength (Delta lambda) at 100 nm was chosen for CWSFS scanning, the synchronous fluorescence spectra of the four PAHs could be well separated with only one single scan. Different from conventional fluorescence analysis, the established method can avoid the interference among the four PAHs each other and the interference of the drinking water sample matrix, so the four PAHs in drinking water could be well distinguished and determined. The concentrations of four PAHs in the range of 0.05-100 mu g/L, 0.1-400 mu g/L, 0.05-100 mu g/L and 0.5-2000 mu g/L showed a good linear relationship with fluorescence intensity. The limits of detection were 0.0058 mu g/L, 0.021 mu g/L, 0.0061 mu g/L and 0.056 mu g/L, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 86.55-98.74%. Overall, the established CWSFS had the characteristics of simple, rapid, sensitive and accuracy, and had been applied to the determination of the four PAHs in various drinking water with satisfactory results.