I am trying to analyze heterocyclic compounds (containing N, O, S or called NOSH)in environmental samples, but so far I have little information about the samples collection, extraction, cleanup and chromatographic analysis. I will very appreciate if anybody can provide any helpful information or suggestion. Thanks.

Which analytical technique will you use? For example GC-FID, GC-MS or LC-MS?
What is the matrix of the sample?
Do you know anything about the samples' composition?

Chempara, thanks for your reply. I have GC/FID, GC/MS and HPLC/UV available for this work. I try to screen the nitrogen and sulfur heterocyclic hydrocarbons. My matrix will be petroleum polluted soil and or water samples. Can you give me some suggestion? Thanks.

Well for water samples i suggest HPLC/UV after SPE for sample cleanup. You should check out the SPE manual for the procedure that you could use for the treatment of your water samples. It's possible that you can also use GC/MS if you recover the target analytes with some compatible organic solvent.
For petroleum polluted soil i think GC/MS is the most appropriate technique due to low detection levels that can be accoplissed.

Thanks. I agree with you that GC/MS is a good choice , but, the trouble is that nitrogen heterocyclic compounds may degrade under GC conditions before they enter the MSD. By the way, do you think what solvent used to recover these compounds more? I think nitrogen, sulfur heterocyclic compounds are more polar than common PAHs, so DCM and hexane may not work.

Yes it's true that these compounds are more polar than common PAHs. Why don't you try isopropanol or another alcohol with larger chain but not too large due to extreme viscosity of the solvent. It's possible that to recovery the compounds you want.
I have little experience on GC but enough on HPLC so i guess that i should apologise if i didn't offer you any good advice.
I hope i could be of some help!

Here are some specific suggestions. You can use Oasis HLB products for the specific extraction of organic substances from water. For the specifics of the elution schemes, look at the Waters webside for details. The extraction schemes include tricks that specifically remove humic sustances, which are likely to be a problem with your matrix. There are also specific examples available for specific compound classes.

I very appreciate your help. I will try.

Hi, Chempara, your advice is very helpful. I know your have rich experience in NOSH analysis using HPLC. Could you please forward me some of your pubulications or tell me where I can look up? My email is yzf_68@yahoo.com
Many thanks.