Qualitative TLC determination of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sugar-beet

The presence of polycyclic or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in sugar-beet from a local sugar factory in the district of Vojvodina. The sugar-beet was cultivated on areas near roads with intensive traffic. The procedure for the preparation and determination of these compounds included saponification of the sample, several liquid-liquid extraction systems and a silica gel column clean-up. The purified sam- ple solution was analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel with cyclohex- ane as the developing solvent. Benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)anthracene and/or ben- zo(a)pyrene were detected at concentrations greater than the allowed limits in food.