Environmental Applications of Pressurised Fluid Extraction

Pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) utilises organic solvent under high pressure and temperature for the extraction of organic compounds from environmental matrices. This review considers the theoretical aspects and instrumentation required to perform PFE. An important aspect of any new extraction technique is method development. As well as considering important aspects of method development for PFE, a procedure is highlighted for the development of a quantitative extraction protocol. Applications of PFE for the removal of phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and dibenzofurans, pesticides and herbicides are considered. Typical solid environmental matrices from which these analytes are removed are soils, sediments, fly ash, biological matrices (pine needles, mosses, fish and mussel tissue) and foodstuffs. Finally, future directions of the technique are considered.