Characterization of an urban landfill soil by using physicochemical analysis and solid phase microextraction (SPME)—GC/MS

Abstract

We have aimed at characterizing top soil samples taken in-situ from five different locations of the unregulated dumping site in Eskişehir/Turkey for a period of six months. The study is the first attempt in the city and in Turkey, regarding particularly the SPME (Solid Phase Microextraction Technique) analysis method utilized. A comprehensive research has been conducted to produce critical soil data to be used for indicating current risks as well as the urgency of rehabilitating the site and establishing a sanitary landfill in the site. Conventional physicochemical analytical methods and SPME technique were used to analyze the samples. Physicochemical analyses were performed for determining the pH, total dried matter, volatile matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, macro elements and heavy metals. Meteorological data were also recorded for the same period. SPSS.10.0 statistical program was used to determine the correlation between meteorological data and physicochemical analysis results. Mean values were used in the correlation analyses. These data indicated that the air temperature and precipitation have significant effects on soil characteristics. SPME, coupled with GC/MS, was used to identify eighty six volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds contained in soil samples. The samples were extracted by headspace SPME with heating (DeltaHS-SPME). SPME analyses were conducted using a commercially available polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber having a film thickness of 65 microm (Supelco) as a capture medium. The experimentally optimized headspace sampling conditions were arranged (15 min. at 50 degrees C) before a 30 min. sampling period.

Recent Developments and Applications of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) in Food and Environmental Analysis—A Review

“…Sampling of soil and sediments as well as other solid materials like manure, activated sludge, and biochar by SPME is usually performed by HS methods. In some applications extraction of analytes has been assisted by heating of the sample [84,377,378,[384][385][386] or cooling the fiber [54], use of microwaves [381]; use of pressurized fluid extraction [95], or addition of small amounts of organic solvents prior to SPME [84,384]. Most applications published on SPME analysis of solid environmental samples involve the use of commercially available SPME fibers.…”

“…In nd-SPME, the extracted amount of analytes is so small that the depletion (i.e., change of concentrations) of the analytes does not lead to a change in reaction kinetics or other relevant conditions in the sample. Further applications of SPME to solid environmental samples are characterization of VOC and odorous compounds in soil, manure, compost, and biochar samples [373][374][375][376][377].…”

Potential for enhanced phytoremediation of landfills using biosolids – a review

“…However, historically it is the ubiquitous presence of uncontrolled landfills that has left a legacy of soil contamination. For example, soils from unregulated landfill sites, reserved for municipal solid wastes, were demonstrated to be contaminated by a variety of heavy metals such as copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, and nickel with levels well above regulatory guidelines (Banar et al, 2007;Bhattacharyya et al, 2008). Soils around a municipal landfill in Brazil were shown to be highly contaminated with heavy metals with levels of Cd, Pb, Zn and Mn significantly higher than soils from a nearby forest, for 73% (Cd), 67% (Pb) and 53% (Zn and Mn) of the soils tested (Segura-Munoz et al, 2004).…”

Effect of Leachate on Soil in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State Nigeria

“…Soils are considered as the final basin for leachate released into the environment, as leachate penetrate soil, are depends on soils [6]. When screening for pollutants in soil and leachate at contaminated sites, the results are often required directly, because classification of the soil is necessary before identifying the remediation methods [7]. This study has been done in order to evaluate the effect of leachate on soil characteristic on chosen disposal sites and normal site in Jos metropolis.…”