Xu, ShengruiShuai, QinPawliszyn, Janusz2017-09-112017-09-112017-09-20http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01944http://hdl.handle.net/10012/12362This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Analytical Chemistry, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01944An improved performance of the cold fiber solid phase micro extraction (CF-SPME) technique was accomplished with the use of the pressure balanced procedure. In order to obtain a pressure-balanced state during extraction at 200 degrees C, 7 mL of air volume was withdrawn from 10 mL commercial vials, while 15 mL was withdrawn from vials where 5 mu L of diethylamine was added as a modifier/displacer. The benefits of the balanced system were demonstrated for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from solid matrixes, including sand and certified sediment samples. Results showed the pressure-balanced procedure enhanced the extraction efficiency of the method, especially for high volatility compounds, as the leakage of analytes was mitigated under sample temperature conditions of 200 degrees C. Analytical precision was also improved, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 4% to 8% for all analytes under study. For the determination of PAHs in certified sediment samples, pressure-balanced CF-SPME yielded more accurate results in comparison to nonpressure-balanced CF-SPME. The proposed methodology provided the additional benefit of improved recoveries at lower pressures.enSolid phase microextraction (SPME)Cold fiberExtractionBalanced systemArticle