Abstract: In this study, we planned to set up a fast and accurated method for detecting the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in plant. The C18 column instead of PAHs column was used and the chromatographic conditions were optimized by single factor and orthogonal experiment. The optimal separated conditions were: detection wavelength was 300 nm, column temperature was maintained at 30℃, injection amount was 20 μL, a flow rate was 0.7 mL/min, acetonitrile as phase B. The gradient elution procedure was 0-3 min (50% A+50% B), 3-30 min (100% B). There was a good linear relationship between peak area and concentration, the correlation coefficient ≥0.9990, the relative standard deviation of ≤2%. This study established a C18 chromatography column instead of PAHs column detection method. It not only detected PAH fast and accurately, but also reduced the cost using for the detected equipment.