Determination of chlorobenzenes in environmental samples using solid phase microextraction, thermal desorption and analysis by gas chromatography coupled to FID, ECD, MSD, IRD detectors

Abstract

SummaryA complex method was developed for the determination of chlorobenzenes in soil and groundwater samples. Samples were taken at two sites in Baranya county, where a mixture of chlorobenzene waste was deposited, causing severe contamination in the environment. Clean-up of these sites demands modern and reliable analytical methods. Several sample preparation techniques were used, such as solid phase microextraction (SPME), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and a recently developed thermal desorption method. The applicability of various sample preparation methods was compared by measuring recovery percentages, relative standard deviations and by investigating the matrix dependency of these values. Gas chromatography was used for quantitative determination of chlorobenzenes, using MS, IR, FID and ECD detection techniques. Detection levels were as low as I ppt in water, and 10 ppt in soil samples. Chlorobenzene concentration was in the range 1 ppt-1 ppm in water and 100 ppb-100 ppm in soil samples. Identification and calibration of these compounds were performed by quantitative standards. This complex analytical method can be used for rapid and precise quantitative and qualitative determination of chlorobenzenes.

A Contribution to the Determination of Polychlorobenzenes in Sediments

“…Later on, an analytical methodology for the determination of chlorobenzenes in water and sediment samples using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography coupled to ECD, MS, flame ionisation and Infra-red detectors, was developed (Takats and Torkos, 1998).…”

Gas chromatography/ion trap tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of halobenzenes in soils by solid-phase microextraction

“…Halobenzenes (Hbzs), used as industrial solvents, pesticides, dielectric fluids, deodorant and chemical intermediates,1 are prevalent in the environment as a result of industrial atmospheric discharges and release of solid/liquid effluents. They are present in aquatic environments,2,, 3 and accumulate in living organisms,4 soil and sediments3,, 5–7 and sewage sludges8 because of their relatively high octanol‐water partition coefficients and hydrophobicity. Hbzs are hazardous to health and some of them are listed as priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)9 due to their toxicity.…”

“…Commonly used analytical techniques to determine trace amounts of Hbzs in soil or water are based on high‐resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) with selective detection systems, such as electron capture detection (ECD),3,, 10,, 11 or coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) 3,. 11–13 However, analysis of organic compounds in complex matrices like soils is difficult because the matrix components, which are present at levels many times those of the target analytes, interfere with the determination of these minor components, even when extensive clean‐up procedures are applied to the sample.…”