Identification of Some Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sugar Beet by Reversed Phase Thin-Layer Chromatography
Ljiljana A. Kolarov, Eva S. Lončar, Radomir V. Malbaša, and Biljana D. Škrbić
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
Corresponding author: Ljiljana A. Kolarov
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad
Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
Telephone: +381 21 6350–122 /799
Fax number: +381 21 450–413
E-mail: ljkolarov@yahoo.com
Abstract: Increase of industrial activities and traffic are the main sources of many organic pollutants in the
environment. Polycyclic or polynuclear hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants with mutagenic
and/or carcinogenic activity. They are present in air, water, sediment, soil, plants, animals, and fast food.
The presence of some PAHs included in the US EPA list was investigated in sugar beet cultivated on the areas
near the roads of intense traffic. Cyclohexane extract, purified and concentrated, was applied to RP–18
thin-layer chromatography plates and developed with methanol-water mixture (9+1, v/v). Visualization of the
spots was achieved by UV illumination. The identification benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene meant that
the analyzed sugar beet sample was contaminated. Application of thin-layer chromatography is a useful method
for preliminary identification of PAHs, but it is not good enough for their individual separation and
identification in complex biological mixtures.