Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in asphalt binder using matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography

Abstract

A method developed for the extraction and analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the asphalt binder using a matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and gas chromatography is presented. The MSPD method was proposed as a rapid and easy approach to determining PAHs present in the maltenic phase of asphalt binder extracted through a mechanical shaking and sonication of the material. The recovery rates ranged from 62.77–89.92% (shaking) and from 56.54–93.6% (sonication) with relative standard deviations lower than 8.8%. The study shows that the recovery rates using shaking and sonication extractions are not significantly different at the p < 0.05 level. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.7–1.8 mg/kg and 2.2–5.6 mg/kg, respectively. The proposed analytical method was applied to determine PAH levels in an asphalt binder from Brazil. The main PAHs found were BbF, BaP, Per, IncdP, DahA, and BghiP, with average concentrations of 10.2–20.7 mg/kg, but the PAHs Ace and Acy were not detected. However, Nap, Fl, Phen, Ant, Flr, Pyr, Chry, BaA, and BkF were present in average concentrations amounting to less than 10 mg/kg. The results showed that the MSPD method is potentially a valuable tool for the determination of PAHs in the asphalt binder.