The current study successfully optimized the liquid-liquid extraction technique/reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection (LLE-HPLC-UV) approach for the measurement of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aqueous samples. LLE is revealed to be effective in the extraction of 16 PAHs. The methodology's performance was assessed in terms of linearity, detection and quantification limits, and recovery. Good linearity for all PAHs were obtained. Low LOD values (0.003-0.131 µl/mL) were obtained making the HPLC-UV method particularly sensitive for PAHs determination. Reasonable recovery was obtained for all PAHs. Under the analytical conditions utilized, no PAH was identified in the genuine water samples examined.

Abbreviations— ACEE: acenaphthene; ACEY: acenaphthylene; ANTA: anthracene; BAAA: benzo(a)anthracene; BAPY: benzo(a)pyrene; BBFA: benzo(b)fluoranthene; BGPY: benzo(g, h, i)perylene; BKFA: benzo(k)fluoranthene; CHYS: chrysene; DBAT: dibenzo(a, h)anthracene; FLRE: fluorene; FLAT: fluoranthene; HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography; IDPY: indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene; LOD: limit of detection; LOQ: limit of quantification; NAPT: naphthalene; PAHs: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PHNT: phenanthrene; POP: persistent organic pollutant; PYRY: pyrene; r: correlation coefficient; RSD: relative standard deviation; SD: standard deviation.