Target and suspect screening of OH-PAHs in air particulates using liquid chromatography-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry.

Up until now, the methods used for determination of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air particulate samples have been target methods, only determining compounds with available reference standards. In this present study, a combined target and suspect screening strategy for the analysis of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was developed, utilizing liquid chromatography coupled to orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry. The target screening included simultaneous determination of nine hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, while additional eight hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon masses were screened for using the suspect screening. The target screening was validated with respect to linearity, limits of detection and quantification and matrix effects. The calibration curves ranged from 0.01 to 10ng/mL, the method limits of detection and quantification were in the rage of 0.001- 0.018pg/m