Sequestration of priority pollutant PAHs from sediment pore water employing semipermeable membrane devices

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were employed to sample sediment pore water in static exposure studies under controlled laboratory conditions using (control pond and formulated) sediments fortified with 15 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PPPAHs). The sediment fortification level of 750 ng/g was selected on the basis of what might be detected in a sediment sample from a contaminated area. The sampling interval consisted of 0, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days for each study. The analytical methodologies, as well as the extraction and sample cleanup procedures used in the isolation, characterization, and quantitation of 15 PPPAHs at different fortification levels in SPMDs, water, and sediment were reported previously (Williamson, M.S. Thesis, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA; Williamson et al., Chemosphere (This issue--PII: S0045-6535(02)00394-6)) and used for this project. Average (mean) extraction recoveries for each PPPAH congener in each matrix are reported and discussed. No procedural blank extracts (controls) were found to contain any PPPAH residues above the method quantitation limit, therefore, no matrix interferences were detected. The focus of this publication is to demonstrate the ability to sequester environmental contaminants, specifically PPPAHs, from sediment pore water using SPMDs and two different types of fortified sediment.

HPLC-PFD determination of priority pollutant PAHs in water, sediment, and semipermeable membrane devices

High performance liquid chromatography coupled with programmable fluorescence detection was employed for the determination of 15 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PPPAHs) in water, sediment, and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). Chromatographic separation using this analytical method facilitates selectivity, sensitivity (ppt levels), and can serve as a non-destructive technique for subsequent analysis by other chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Extraction and sample cleanup procedures were also developed for water, sediment, and SPMDs using various chromatographic and wet chemical methods. The focus of this publication is to examine the enrichment techniques and the analytical methodologies used in the isolation, characterization, and quantitation of 15 PPPAHs in different sample matrices.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polycylic aromatic sulfur heterocycles by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection in seawater and sediment samples

Two methods for determining 10 polycyclic aromatic compounds were developed. Both methods were based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but one method used fluorescence detection, while the other used atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). For water analysis, solid-phase extraction (SPE) was on-line coupled to the separation system. Using a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (PLRP-s) as sorbent in the SPE and adding 20% of acetonitrile to the water sample before its preconcentration, recoveries were above 70% for most of the compounds. For the fluorescence method, all compounds were detected and six of them could be quantified at concentrations higher than 0.02 microg 1(-1). For the MS detection method, only seven of the compounds were detected and six were quantified at concentrations higher than 0.06 microg 1(-1). To analyse sediment samples, an extraction with dichloromethane was used and, due to the complexity of the matrix, a standard addition calibration was carried out. Seawater and sediment samples taken from the Tarragona fishing port and marina on the coast of Catalonia (Spain) were analysed, and five compounds (benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) were quantified in the sediment samples.

Solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic compounds

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) for two groups of polyaromatic compounds--polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthalenesulfonates--with completely different problems in the extraction process are reviewed. The sorbents used in each case and the different steps of SPE are studied. Particular problems encountered in the SPE of each group are described. Adsorption problems of PAHs which require an organic solvent or a surfactant to be added to the sample are explained. The need of ion-pair solid-phase extraction for extracting naphthalenesulfonates and the influence of the inorganic species in the extraction are discussed. The on-line systems are described for both group of compounds.

Solid-phase extraction for multiresidue analysis of organic contaminants in water

To overcome the limitations of the detection systems associated with gas or liquid chromatography, a sample pretreatment is required with the objective to provide a sample fraction enriched with all the target analytes and as free as possible from other matrix components. There is now no doubt that solid-phase extraction (SPE) has now become the method of choice for carrying out simultaneously the extraction and concentration of many compounds in aqueous samples. Many recent applications of SPE to multiresidue analysis are reviewed with an emphasis on the importance of the choice of the sorbent and of the sample volume. SPE is particularly well adapted to multiresidue analysis including compounds from a wide range of polarity or characterized by various physico-chemical properties. However, SPE is not completely free from practical problems inherent to the nature of the compounds or to the coupling to the chromatographic systems. Many examples are reported to illustrate these problems which can in most cases be circumvented. New developments in SPE are also reviewed.

Solid-phase extraction: method development, sorbents, and coupling with liquid chromatography

The objective of this review is to provide updated information about the most important features of the new solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials, their interaction mode and their potential for modern SPE. First, the recent developments are given in formats, phases, automation, high throughput purpose and set-up of new types of procedures. Emphasis is then placed on the large choice of sorbents for trapping analytes over a wide range of polarities, such as highly cross-linked copolymers, functionalized copolymers, graphitized carbons or some specific n-alkylsilicas. The method development is given which is based on prediction from liquid chromatographic retention data or solvation parameters in order to determine the main parameters of any sequence (type and amount of sorbent, sample volume which can be applied without loss of recovery, composition and volume of the clean-up solution, composition and volume of the desorption solution). Obtaining extracts free from matrix interferences in a few steps--one step when possible--is now included in the development of SPE procedure. New selective phases such as mixed-mode and restricted access matrix sorbents or emerging phases such as immunosorbents or molecularly imprinted polymers are reviewed. Selectivity obtained by combining two sorbents is described with the use of ion-exchange or ion-pair sorbents. Special attention is given to complete automation of the SPE sequence with its on-line coupling with liquid chromatography followed by various detection modes. This represents a fast, modern and reliable approach to trace analysis. Many examples illustrate the various features of modern SPE which are discussed in this review. They have been selected in both biological and environmental areas.