Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils : proposal for industrial quality control

Determination of traces of PAHs by published methods until now are not easily suitable for a routine industrial control. They are generally time consuming, require sophisticated equipment and the results may be difficult to interpret. An alternative is to use the method of determination of BaP using chromatography on alumina or preferably percolation through a cartridge filled with silica then HPLC on a C18 reversed phase and to extend it to the determination of the six heaviest PAH, this following the present-day recommendations. Up to six determination can be performed in half a day, allowing an oil refiner to control raw materials and finished products.