Selective HPLC Analysis of Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Exciplex Fluorescence Phenomenon

We have developed a sensitive analytical method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using exciplex fluorescence phenomenon expressed between PAHs and aniline derivatives. From screening study, 8 kinds of pyrenes, anthracene, acridine and perylene proved to form exciplex fluorescence. As acceptor molecule for exciplex fluorescence formation, many aniline derivatives such as N,N-dimethylaniline and N,N-di-n-propylaniline could be applicable. Since exciplex fluorescence strongly expressed in low polar organic solvents, we proposed a simultaneous determination method for pyrenes combined with normal-phase HPLC. We successfully applied this method to quantification of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in smokers and non-smokers.