Further solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry applications: “on-fibre” and aqueous photodegradation of nitro musks

New theoretical insight into indirect photochemical transformation of fragrance nitro-musks: Mechanisms, eco-toxicity and health effects

The ubiquitous presence of fragrance-associated synthetic musk is cause for serious concern due to their transformation and environmental impacts. In particular, nitro-musks are frequently detected in various matrices, including water, even though they were restricted because of carcinogenicity. Thus, using musk xylene as a model compound, the mechanism, eco-toxicity and health effects during OH-initiated transformation process were systematically studied using quantum chemistry and computational toxicology. Results indicate that musk xylene can be exclusively transformed via H-abstraction pathways from its methyl group, with total rate constants of 5.65 × 10⁸-8.79 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1, while the contribution of other pathways, including single-electron transfer and OH-addition pathways, were insignificant. The subsequent dehydrogenation intermediates (MX(H)) could further transform into cyclic, aldehyde and demethylation products. Based on toxicity assessments, all the transformation products exhibited decreased aquatic toxicity to fish in comparison with the parent musk xylene but they were still classified at toxic or very toxic levels, especially the cyclic products. More importantly, these products still exhibited carcinogenic activity during OH-initiated transformation and increased carcinogenicity relative to the parent musk xylene. This is the first time that the transformation mechanism and environmental impacts of nitro-musks have been explored through theoretical calculations.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol Using a Nanocatalyst: The Mechanism and Kinetics

The study of photocatalytic degradation of phenol was exploited with nano-ZnO as immobilized photocatalysts in a laboratory scale photocatalytic reactor. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism and kinetics of phenol in water were studied using the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique. Based on optimized headspace SPME conditions, phenol in water was first extracted by the fibre, which was subsequently inserted into an aqueous system with immobilized photocatalysts (nano-ZnO) exposed to an irradiation source (i.e., ultraviolet A (UVA) lamps). After different irradiation times (5–80 min), four main intermediates of photocatalytic degradation generated on the fibre were determined by GC-MS.

Analysis of emerging organic contaminants in environmental solid samples

Spreading sewage sludge on agricultural lands has been actively promoted by national authorities as an economic way of recycling. However, as by-product of wastewater treatment, sewage sludge may contain toxic substances, which could be incorporated into agricultural products or be distributed in the environment. Moreover, sediments can be contaminated by the discharge of wastewater effluents into rivers. This article reviews the determination of emerging contaminants (surfactants, flame retardants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products) in environmental solid samples (sludge, soil and sediment). Sample preparation, including extraction and clean-up, as well as the subsequent instrumental determination of contaminants are discussed. Recent applications of extraction techniques, such as Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, pressurised liquid extraction, microwave assisted extraction and matrix solid-phase dispersion to the analysis of emerging contaminants in environmental solid samples are reviewed. Determination of these contaminants, generally carried out by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, especially mass spectrometry for the identification and quantification of residues, is also summarised and discussed.

Analytical methods for the determination of persistent ingredients of personal care products in environmental matrices

Concern about the environmental fate and potential effects of synthetic organic chemicals used in soaps, lotions, toothpaste, and other personal care products continues to increase. This review describes procedures used for the analysis of five classes of these compounds-synthetic musk fragrances, antimicrobials, ultraviolet filters, insect repellents, and parabens-in water, sediment, sewage sludge, air, and aquatic biota. The primary focus is on sample extraction and preparation methods for these compounds. Instrumental methods commonly used for these compounds are also discussed.

Investigation of photodegradation products generated after UV-irradiation of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers using photo solid-phase microextraction

In this study, the photoinduced degradation of five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), BDE-47, BDE-100, BDE-99, BDE-154 and BDE-153, is studied using solid-phase microextraction polydimethylsiloxane fibers as photolytic support. PBDEs are extracted from aqueous solutions using SPME fibers that are subsequently exposed to UV irradiation for different times (from 2 to 60 min). Photodegradation kinetics of the five PBDEs, tentative identification and photochemical behavior of the generated photoproducts, as well as photodegradation pathways, have been studied employing this on-fiber approach technique (photo-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Aqueous photodegradation studies have also been performed and compared with photo-SPME. All the photoproducts detected in the aqueous experiments were previously found in the photo-SPME experiments. In this study, reductive debromination by successive losses of bromine atoms is confirmed as the main photodegradation pathway of PBDEs. A large number of PBDEs were obtained as photoproducts of the five target analytes. Other mechanism of photodegradation observed was intramolecular cyclization from the homolytic dissociation of the C-Br bond; thus, polybromo-dibenzofurans were generated. This work contributes to the study of the photodegradation of PBDEs and shows the potential of photo-SPME to evaluate the photo-transformation of organic pollutants.

Confirmation of the formation of dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the photodegradation of triclosan by photo-SPME

Photodegradation is a possible way to eliminate organic pollutants from the environment but, at the same time, can be a source of toxic byproducts. The photochemical conversion of triclosan, a common pollutant in continental waters, into dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (DCDD) has been confirmed in our preliminary experiments employing photo-SPME (photo-solid-phase microextraction) using 18-W UV irradiation at 254-nm wavelength. Under these conditions, triclosan is rapidly photodegraded (70% of triclosan was degraded in 2 min); the most important novel aspect of this work is the conversion of triclosan to DCDD directly on the polydimethylsiloxane coating of the SPME fiber. Moreover, this conversion is also confirmed in non-buffered aqueous photodegradation experiments using SPME as the extraction technique. In all the experiments of this study, analysis was carried out by gas chromatography-electronic impact mass spectrometry (GC-EI/MS).