A comparative study of the analytical methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Summary This study was performed to establish a rapid analytical method to determine the presence of fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAH s) in seafoods by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection ( HPLC / FLD ). The samples were prepared using two methods: the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe (Qu EC h ERS ) method and the alkali digestion method. The Qu EC h ERS method involved a convenient and effective solid–liquid extraction and a simple purification. The alkali digestion method was comprised of a liquid–liquid extraction after saponification with potassium hydroxide followed by purification. The limits of detection ( LOD s) and limits of quantification ( LOQ s) of the Qu EC h ERS method ranged from 0.05 to 1.60 μg kg −1 , and those of the alkali digestion method ranged from 0.28 to 5.18 μg kg −1 . The repeatability for all target analytes was similar for the two methods, that is, 0.66–4.24% and 0.26–5.75% for the Qu EC h ERS and alkali digestion methods, respectively. At analyte concentrations of 2.5–50 μg kg −1 , the recovery of the Qu EC h ERS method ranged from 86.87% to 115.67% and that of the alkali digestion method ranged from 69.22% to 100.21%.