ANALYSIS OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS WITH AN ION-TRAP MASS DETECTOR AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

Some Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a wide range of molecular masses were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography using an ion-trap mass detector and a flame ionization detector. The sensitivity limits and the possibility of automatic identification through library search were evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained using other analytical techniques: mass spectrometry with a quadrupole analyser and high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array UV detector and fluorimetry. The relative sensitivity and the minimum amounts detectable with the various techniques were determined.