Headspace Solid Phase Micro Extraction GC-ECD Determination of Volatile Organic Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Soils

Solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) in the early detection of potentially active volatile compounds from organic wastes used for the management of soil-borne pathogens

The complex molecular assemblages were analysed in the soil gas phase after applying pine forest wastes (PFW) or sugarbeet vinasses (SBV) for soil-borne crop pests' management. For this purpose, solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) were used coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). The organic wastes were applied either to Calcic Entisol or Haplic Arenosol moistened at field capacity and soil was covered with polyethylene sheet for 28-30 days to retain the volatiles. The PFW-treated soil mainly released volatile terpene hydrocarbons (trans-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene and p-cymene), with alpha-humulene and ethylbenzotriazole prevailing in the untreated soil. After SBV application mainly alkyl compounds and alkylbenzenes were released, whereas cyclohexanone, limonene, butanone, acetic acid, camphor and benzaldehyde occurred in the untreated soil. Compound assemblages also depended on the increasing water saturation in terms of soil depth, with sulphur compounds prevailing in deep horizons. Our results showed that SPME can be directly applied to soils to provide valuable information on volatile products from organic amendments.

Trace level determination of trichloroethylene in biological samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/NCIMS) method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was developed for the determination of trichloroethylene (TCE) in blood, liver, kidney, lung and brain. The method was optimized with respect to several parameters including extraction time, extraction temperature, desorption time and salt addition. The method showed good linearity over the range of 0.025-25 ng/mL in blood and 0.075-75 ng/g in tissues with correlation coefficient (R2) values higher than 0.99. The precision and accuracy for intra-day and inter-day measurements were less than 10%. The relative recoveries of all matrices were greater than 52%. Samples showed no significant loss during 8 h in the autosampler and following three freeze/thaw cycles. Validation results demonstrated that selected-ion monitoring of the 35Cl and 37Cl isotopes using NCI resulted in reliable and sensitive quantitation. This validated method was successfully applied to study the toxicokinetics of TCE following oral administration of extremely low doses of this potential human carcinogen to small test animals (rats).

Determination of trichloroethylene in biological samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for determination of trichloroethylene (TCE) in rat blood, liver, lung, kidney and brain, using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), is presented. A 100-microm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber was selected for sampling. The major analytical parameters including extraction and desorption temperature, extraction and desorption time, salt addition, and sample preheating time were optimized for each of the biological matrices to enhance the extraction efficiency and sensitivity of the method. The lower limits of quantitation for TCE in blood and tissues were 0.25ng/ml and 0.75ng/g, respectively. The method showed good linearity over the range of 0.25-100ng TCE/ml in blood and 0.75-300ng TCE/g in tissues, with correlation coefficient (R(2)) values higher than 0.994. The precision and accuracy for intra-day and inter-day measurements were less than 10%. The relative recoveries of TCE respect to deionized water from all matrices were greater than 55%. Stability tests including autosampler temperature and freeze and thaw of specimens were also investigated. This validated method was successfully applied to study the toxicokinetics of TCE following administration of a low oral dose.

Simultaneous determination of methyl tert-butyl ether, its degradation products and other gasoline additives in soil samples by closed-system purge-and-trap gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A new protocol for the simultaneous determination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); its main degradation products: tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) and tert-butyl formate (TBF); other gasoline additives, oxygenate dialkyl ethers: ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) and diisopropyl ether (DIPE); aromatics: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) and other compounds causing odour events such as dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and trichloroethylene (TCE) in soils has been developed. On the basis of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method 5035A, a fully automated closed-system purge-and-trap coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (P&T-GC/MS) was optimised and permitted to detect microg/kg concentrations in solid matrices avoiding losses of volatile compounds during operation processes. Parameters optimised were the sampling procedure, sample preservation and storage, purging temperature, matrix effects and quantification mode. Using 5 g of sample, detection limits were between 0.02 and 1.63 microg/kg and acceptable method precision and accuracy was obtained provided quantification was performed using adequate internal standards. Soil samples should be analysed as soon as possible after collection, stored under -15 degrees C for not longer than 7 days if degradation products have to be analysed. The non-preservative alternative (empty vial) provided good recoveries of the most analytes when freezing the samples up to 7 day holding time, however, if biologically active soil are analysed the preservation with trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na(3)PO(4).12H(2)O or TSP) is strongly recommended more than sodium bisulphate (NaHSO(4)). The method was finally applied to provide threshold and background levels of several gasoline additives in a point source and in sites not influenced by gasoline spills. The proposed method provides the directions for the future application on real samples in current monitoring programs at gasoline pollution risk sites where till now little monitoring data for MTBE in soils are available.