Development and validation of a GC-MS/MS method for priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons quantification in different types of water samples

A sensitive analytical method has been developed for the determination of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, including priority pollutants according to the European Union, by gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS). The sample treatment was based on a solid-phase extraction method which was validated in four different types of water: seawater, drinking water, untreated inland water and wastewater according to CD 2002/657/EC and SANTE/11813/2017 guidelines. Obtained recovery, studied at three concentration levels (1.7, 5.6 and 25.0 ng/L), was in the range 77-108%. Precision values were <= 17% and 22% for intra-day and inter-day precision, respectively. Linearity was studied in the range 1.4-100 ng/L, and the obtained determination coefficients (R-2) were >= 0.9962. Limits of detection were in the range from 1.0 to 3.0 ng/L, whereas limits of quantification were established from 1.4 to 5.0 ng/L. The validated method was successfully accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025 international standard (including calculation of uncertainty) and applied to routine analysis of real water samples.