Trace analysis of aromatic compounds in natural samples by Shpol'skii spectroscopy

Low molecular weight aromatic compounds (acenaphthene, acenaphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and anthracene) were difficult to detect due to their low fluorescence quantum yield. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, we have analyzed several organic extracts (diesel particulate, air particulate). The results (imprecision less than 15%) obtained by Shpol'skii spectroscopy have been compared with values obtained by other analytical methodologies (HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection, GC coupled to mass spectrometry). Good agreement is observed among the three analytical techniques, demonstrating the reliability of Shpol'skii spectroscopy for quantitative analysis