Separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under isocratic conditions by a column switching technique

A simple and efficient method of separating a 20-component PAH-mixture (RSM 1647 standard mixture +benzene, toluene, perylene and coronene) by RP-HPLC is described. Separation was by using two Superspher-100 RP-18 cartridges thermostatted at different temperatures under isocratic conditions with water-acetonitrile eluent. The analysis time with complete resolution of all components can be reduced to 15 min.