Application of Partial Least-Squares Calibration to Phosphorimetric Data for Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Spiked Environmental Samples

Abstract A partial least-squares calibration method is proposed, for the first time, for phosphorescence signals. The proposed method is based on the determination of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benz[a]anthracene by room temperature phosphorimetry, using microemulsion solutions. The emission and first-derivative emission spectra of the ternary mixtures were tested to perform the calibration matrix. Improved recoveries were found for the prior differentiation step in the analysis of ternary mixtures of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in road dust samples. The proposed method yielded recoveries ranging from 93.2 to 115.3%, with relative standard deviations of < 6.8%.