Chapter 1
Extraction of organic compounds
from soil
Analysis of organic pollutants in environmental soil samples is an important task with
respect to the protection of the environment.
Conventionally, organic contaminants in solid samples are examined by Soxhlet
extraction, followed by separation and identification. Several methods have been proposed to reduce the use of organic solvents and to increase the speed of analysis, such as
supercritical fluid extraction [1,2], accelerated solvent extraction [3], subcritical fluid
solvent extraction [4,5] and headspace solid phase micro extraction [6,7]. Separation and phase identification methods such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
are typically used to examine the extracts. Attenuated total reflectance-infra-red spectroscopy [9] provides a direct method for detecting organic species in samples of varying
physical composition and is very suitable for handling aqueous solutions because of the
evanescent wave penetrates into the adjoining medium for a short distance. Examples
of these techniques are reviewed below. Pressurised liquid extraction has been applied
to the determination of polyacrylic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil [126].
1.1 CONVENTIONAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION
Miellet et al [10] and Lopez-Avila et al [11], have reviewed the applications of Soxhlet
extraction to the determination of pesticides in soil. This technique has been applied
extensively to the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic
compounds, pesticides, herbicides and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in soils. Details of
the extraction procedures and the analytical finish employed are reviewed in Table 1.1.
Concawe et al [122], have described a method for the determination of aliphatic
hydrocarbons in soil based on carbon tetrachloride extraction followed by infrared
spectroscopy or gas chromatography.
1.2 ACCELERATED SOLVENT EXTRACTION
This relatively new technique has been proposed as an alternative to the Soxhlet procedure [12–14]. In this technique the soil sample is packed into an extraction cartridge
and the analytes are extracted from the matrix with conventional low.
Two comparative studies have shown that accelerated solvent extraction
extracted quantities of pesticides from soils equal to or larger than those found by other
Extraction of organic compounds
from soil
Analysis of organic pollutants in environmental soil samples is an important task with
respect to the protection of the environment.
Conventionally, organic contaminants in solid samples are examined by Soxhlet
extraction, followed by separation and identification. Several methods have been proposed to reduce the use of organic solvents and to increase the speed of analysis, such as
supercritical fluid extraction [1,2], accelerated solvent extraction [3], subcritical fluid
solvent extraction [4,5] and headspace solid phase micro extraction [6,7]. Separation and phase identification methods such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
are typically used to examine the extracts. Attenuated total reflectance-infra-red spectroscopy [9] provides a direct method for detecting organic species in samples of varying
physical composition and is very suitable for handling aqueous solutions because of the
evanescent wave penetrates into the adjoining medium for a short distance. Examples
of these techniques are reviewed below. Pressurised liquid extraction has been applied
to the determination of polyacrylic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil [126].
1.1 CONVENTIONAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION
Miellet et al [10] and Lopez-Avila et al [11], have reviewed the applications of Soxhlet
extraction to the determination of pesticides in soil. This technique has been applied
extensively to the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic
compounds, pesticides, herbicides and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in soils. Details of
the extraction procedures and the analytical finish employed are reviewed in Table 1.1.
Concawe et al [122], have described a method for the determination of aliphatic
hydrocarbons in soil based on carbon tetrachloride extraction followed by infrared
spectroscopy or gas chromatography.
1.2 ACCELERATED SOLVENT EXTRACTION
This relatively new technique has been proposed as an alternative to the Soxhlet procedure [12–14]. In this technique the soil sample is packed into an extraction cartridge
and the analytes are extracted from the matrix with conventional low.
Two comparative studies have shown that accelerated solvent extraction
extracted quantities of pesticides from soils equal to or larger than those found by other