Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in HPLC fractions by laser-excited time-resolved Shpolʹskii spectrometry with cryogenic fiber-optic probes

Laser-excited time-resolved Shpolʹskii spectrometry at liquid helium temperature (4.2 K) is presented for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in high-performance liquid chromatography fractions. Fluorescence measurements are rapidly done with the aid of a fiber-optic probe, pulsed tunable dye laser, spectrograph, and intensified charge-coupled device. Analyte identification and peak-purity checking are made through wavelength–time matrix formats, which give simultaneous access to spectral and lifetime information. Sample preparation is rapid and simple. It involves liquid–liquid extraction or solid–liquid extraction of chromatographic fractions at the tip of the fiber-optic probe. The potential of both approaches is demonstrated with the semi-quantitative analysis of priority pollutants in heavily contaminated water samples.