Determination of PBDEs in Sediment Samples using Pressurized Solvent Extraction and Automated Soxhlet Extraction

The efficiency of pressurized solvent extraction (PSE) was investigated by comparing PSE with automated Soxhlet extraction. Sediment samples containing polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were processed in the Speed Extractor E-914 for PSE and in the Extraction System B-811 for automated Soxhlet extraction. Quantification of PBDEs was performed by GC-MS. This study shows that both techniques are comparable in terms of accuracy, recovery and reproducibility and confirms that PSE is a much faster technique consuming much less solvent than automated Soxhlet extraction.