Mathematical procedure for the determination of the breakthrough volumes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

A mathematical procedure has been developed to calculate the breakthrough volumes of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a C-18 preconcentration column for aqueous solutions containing 10% acetonitrile as organic modifier. This procedure uses the peaks obtained by the injection of a solution of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) studied in mobile phases with different percentages of organic modifier to calculate the elution curve of the PAHs at the percentage of organic modifier in the water solution. This method allows a faster and easier determination of the values of the breakthrough volumes of these compounds, specially in the case of PAHs which have long retention times.