Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives in environment

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives, such as nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, halogenated PAHs, and hydroxylated PAHs, are organic chemicals formed with or produced as transformation products of PAHs. The derivatives are more toxic and accumulative than parent PAHs, which require further recognition on their transformation mechanisms and environmental behaviors. Development of analytical methods for PAH derivatives is essential for comprehensively studying their transformation mechanisms and evaluating their environmental risks. In this study, we discuss pretreatment methods, including extraction, purification, and derivatization for PAH derivatives in solid and aqueous samples. We also compare the widely used two coupling analytical techniques, including both GC- and HPLC-coupled mass spectrometry methods. The environmental characteristics of PAH derivatives reported in studies since 2010 are summarized. Finally, several research prospects are raised for future studies. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of recent analytical techniques for PAH derivatives, and ideas for technique selection to meet different analytical requirements.