Multivariate calibration applied to synchronous fluorescence spectrometry. Simultaneous determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples

Synchronous fluorescence spectra of mixtures containing ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (anthracene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, naphthalene, perylene, phenanthrene and pyrene) have been used for the determination of these compounds by Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), using both PLS-1 and PLS-2. Different procedures have been used for the pretreatment of the data in order to obtain better models, and the size of the calibration matrix has also been studied. The best models have been used for the determination of the above mentioned PAHs in spiked natural water samples at concentration levels between 4 and 20 ng ml(-1). Recoveries ranged from 80 to 120% in most cases, although fluorene gave significantly lower results. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.