No abstract

A method for the extraction and clean-up of four groups of cationic surfactants in sewage water and activated sludge is reported. In the case of sewage water, this is based on the extraction of the acidified aqueous sample with chloroform, centrifugation, purification by back-extraction with water and clean-up by alumina column chromatography. Activated sludge was extracted with methanolic hydrochloric acid after centrifugation. The extract was evaporated to dryness and re-dissolved in chloroform before further clean-up. The applicability of this analytical scheme to the new "esterquats" is discussed

Cloud and rain water samples have been collected in spring 1991 in the Vosges mountains (France) and analyzed for aldehydes, phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both passive and active cloud collectors have been employed. A mean concentration of formaldehyde of 197 pgA (6.6 pM) has been found in cloud water while on the average only 100 pdl(3.3 pM) were observed in rain water. The average phenol concentration was 3.5 pg/l(37 nM), but only 1.6 pdl(17 nM) in rain water. Finally, the mean concentration of PAHs (only determined in cloud water) amounts to 0.37 pgA. The PAH profile is similar to that observed for rain water sampled in Hannover (Germany).

Precipitation samples collected in Hannover (Germany) mainly in 1989 (and in part also in 1988 and 1990) were analyzed for n-alkanes, fatty acids, aldehydes, phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The analytical methods employed were: GC/FID for alkanes, GC/MS for fatty acids and phenols, HPLC for aldehydes and PAHs