Uncertainty assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofuran and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl analysis in stationary source sample emissions in accordance with the impending European standard EN-1948 using fly ashes

The analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) present in stack gas emissions and solid residues from incinerators will be mandatory in the foreseeable future. European standard EN-1948 is in the process of being updated through the addition of a new Part 4 related to the analysis of the 12 dl-PCBs. Therefore, either a comprehensive and reliable method capable of analyzing all of these 29 compounds (12 dl-PCBs and 17 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs) needs to be developed, or the existing PCDD/F analytical procedure must be adapted to include the dl-PCBs. This study has taken the latter approach of modifying PCDD/F methodology and in particular the fractionation step, by isolating dioxins and dl-PCBs into separate fractions ready for high resolution gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) analysis. Results obtained from the analysis of Certified Reference Materials (CRM-490 and CRM-615) and fly ashes from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) intercalibration study demonstrated that the proposed methodology is appropriate to determine the dl-PCBs in accordance with the impending European standard EN-1948. Uncertainty values obtained during the validation of the analytical methodology were 13% total I-TEQ (International Toxic Equivalent) for PCDD/Fs and 31% total WHO-TEQ (World Health Organization Toxic Equivalent) in the case of dl-PCBs. In addition, ‘real’ samples such as emissions and fly ashes were successfully analyzed following the proposed analytical method.     

加速溶剂萃取-流体控制系统净化-高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱定量测定底泥中的二噁英

采用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱(HRGC/HRMS)定量测定了底泥中的17种2,3,7,8位多氯代二噁英和呋喃(PCDD/Fs) ,并测定了四至八氯取代的二噁英和呋喃总量。样品经加速溶剂萃取,然后通过流体控制系统（FMS）自动过硅胶柱、氧化 铝柱和碳柱净化,最后浓缩。以HRGC/HRMS电压选择离子检测模式对样品中的PCDD/Fs进行了定性分析,采用同位素稀释 技术定量,该方法可精确定量到pg/g水平。结果表明该方法分析的17种二噁英和呋喃异构体的检出限可达0.1 pg/g。同 位素标准的回收率为49.8%～85.3%,样品中各异构体的回收率为93.2%～115.6%。该方法不但满足国际标准的要求,还大 大提高了分析速度,使分析周期从原来的2周缩短到2 d以内。     

HRGC-LRMS测定垃圾焚烧炉布袋飞灰中的二噁英类物质

利用高分辨气相色谱-低分辨质谱(HRGC-LRMS)测定了某垃圾焚烧厂布袋飞灰中的二(口恶)英类物质,结果表明对于测定二(口恶)英类浓度相对较高的垃圾飞灰而言,采用HRGC-LRMS是一种可行的方法,回收率在74％～114％之间。该飞灰样品中以二(口恶)英为主,呋喃的含量相对较低,二(口恶)英／呋喃值为4.6,二(口恶)英类物质总量为211.7ng／g,折算到毒性当量为0.69ngI-TEQ／g。     

Validation of methods for measuring polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and furans,and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in flue gas

Method validation was performed on the collection and extraction procedures for an analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs) in flue gas. The adoption of the rapid pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technique was evaluated for extraction from polyurethane foam plugs (PUFPs) and fly ash. With respect to extraction from PUFPs, dichloromethane PLE showed an extraction efficiency equivalent to that of conventional acetone Soxhlet, while toluene PLE was found to have a lower extraction efficiency from fly ash than toluene Soxhlet. The collection ability of three sampling methods, employed in the Japanese standard analytical method JIS K0311 (revised in 2005) was evaluated by evaluating the distribution of gaseous PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs in each collection compartment in sampling trains. A DiOANA® fibrous alumina filter and a PUFP, newly employed trapping devices in the revised JIS method, were found to trap gaseous analytes effectively. The validation of the two newly employed sampling methods (DiOANA and PUFP) was tested by parallel measurements of the methods with a conventional five-impinger method, and good agreements on the PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs quantities were demonstrated.     

同位素稀释的气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用测定食品中二噁英和共平面多氯联苯

采用HRGC/HRMS和同位素稀释定量技术对样品中17种4~8个氯原子取代的二噁英和呋喃(PCDDs/Fs)与12种共平面多氯联苯(PCBs)定量分析。样品经索式抽提、FMSPowerPrep系统净化、浓缩,利用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用仪的多离子检测方式,同位素稀释技术对样品中的目标化合物进行定性和定量。该方法的检出限为pg/g水平。13C同位素内标回收率范围为47%~100%。对3个CRM鱼样中17个PCDDs/Fs和4个PCBs的检测值均在标准定值允许误差范围内。对5个不同的实际样品鱼进行测定表明,样品的回收率在48%~100%之间,回收率的相对标准偏差小于20%;对同一样品进行定量检测的精密度测试结果表明,17种PCDDs/Fs浓度的RSD低于16%,12种PCBs浓度的RSD低于11%。本方法定量分析重现性良好。     

气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用测定环境样品中的二噁英和类二噁英多氯联苯

样品采用索氏抽提,抽提液依次经酸性硅胶床、多段混合硅胶柱和凝胶渗透色谱柱(GPC)净化后,用Florisil硅藻土柱分离出样品中的二噁英(PCDD/Fs)和类二噁英多氯联苯(dioxin-like PCBs),采用同位素稀释法和气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用仪(GC/HRMS)测定了其中的17个2,3,7,8-氯取代二噁英类化合物和12个类二噁英多氯联苯。结果表明,用该法分析二噁英和多氯联苯标准溶液,平行4次的分析结果为:RSD(PCDD/Fs)<8.9%,RSD(PCBs)<11.4%;回收率可达60%-105%。PCDD/Fs和PCBs的检出限分别为0.1-0.8 pg/g和0.05-0.6 pg/g。应用本方法成功测定了沉积物、淤泥、土壤和飞灰中的二噁英和类二噁英多氯联苯,并计算出它们的毒性当量。     

垃圾焚烧炉飞灰中二噁英的分布特性

采用高分辨色谱/低分辨质谱联机分析了不同炉型垃圾焚烧炉布袋除尘器飞灰中的二噁英分布特性。结果表明，燃料组成及飞灰中氯含量对飞灰中二噁英的浓度均有影响。飞灰中氯含量与灰中的二噁英含量成正比关系。尽管飞灰中含有大量重金属，但与飞灰中二噁英的含量并不存在显著的关系。流化床炉与炉排炉布袋除尘器飞灰中二噁英同系物分布特性不同。飞灰中二噁英的主要同系物是1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD(heptachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin)，1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF(heptachlorinated dibenzofuran)和OCDD(octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin)，PCDFs(polychlorinated dibenzofurans)，TEQ (toxic equivalence quantity)高于PCDDs含量。初步研究表明，炉排炉飞灰中二噁英总量及毒性当量（TEQ）大于流化床炉飞灰。     

高分辨气相色谱/质谱法分析新闻纸和复印纸中的二恶英

随机选择空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸,粉碎后用溶剂提取并经多步色谱柱纯化,采用同位素稀释、高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱(HRGC/HRMS)联用技术分析了其中的二含量。结果表明:新闻纸中二的总量高于复印纸,但是毒性当量却低于复印纸;经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸中二的含量均高于空白的新闻纸和复印纸;新闻纸和复印纸中相同二异构体的含量 是不同的。空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸中二毒性当量分别为0.48 ng/kg和0.61 ng/kg,而空白的和经过印刷的复印纸中二恶英毒性当量分别为0.74 ng/kg和0.79     

高分辨气相色谱/质谱法分析新闻纸和复印纸中的二噁

随机选择空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸 ,粉碎后用溶剂提取并经多步色谱柱纯化 ,采用同位素稀释、高分辨气相色谱 /高分辨质谱 (HRGC/HRMS)联用技术分析了其中的二含量。结果表明 :新闻纸中二的总量高于复印纸 ,但是毒性当量却低于复印纸 ;经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸中二的含量均高于空白的新闻纸和复印纸 ;新闻纸和复印纸中相同二异构体的含量是不同的。空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸中二毒性当量分别为 0 4 8ng/kg和 0 6 1ng/kg,而空白的和经过印刷的复印纸中二毒性当量分别为 0 74ng/kg和 0 79ng/kg。所有样品中添加的13 C标记的 2 ,3,7,8位取代的二回收率均在 4 9 82 %至 131 34%之间。     

Rapid and cost-effective analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in soil, fly ash and sediment certified reference materials using pressurized liquid extraction with an integrated carbon trap

Pressurized liquid extraction with an integrated carbon trap (PLE-C) has recently been developed for fast and efficient analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in food and feed. The method has also been tested, but not verified, for use on more complex soil samples, such as soil, sediment and fly ash. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to verify that PLE-C can produce reliable data for PCDDs/PCDFs in various abiotic matrixes. A second aim was to find a replacement for the previously used AX21 active carbon that is currently not commercially available. The performance of the PLE-C was evaluated using both single congener concentrations and toxic equivalency potentials (TEQ-pot) of three (soil, sediment and fly ash) certified reference materials. The results clearly show that PLE-C can be used for abiotic samples and that a commercially available carbon (Norit SA 4PAH HF) can replace the AX-21 carbon in the carbon trap. The TEQ-pot values obtained for the soil and sediment samples were within the uncertainty limits of the corresponding certified values, as were the determinations of single congener concentrations. PLE-C therefore has great potential for determination of PCDDs/PCDFs in soil and sediment samples. The TEQ-pot result for the fly ash was slightly lower than the certified TEQ-pot value, but it is still within the uncertainty limits of the certified value. Out of the single congener concentrations all but four (out of 17) agreed well with the values. Hence, PLE-C may potentially be used also for fly ash—after slight modifications. The integrated PLE-C and cleanup procedure is less labour-intensive than traditional methods such as Soxhlet extraction followed by a multistep cleanup, and consumes smaller quantities of ultrapure solvents than the commonly used Power-Prep system. In addition, PLE-C is capable of larger sample throughputs than the conventional methods. Thus, PLE-C is a promising alternative to the currently used sample preparation procedures for dioxins in abiotic samples. Figure PLE with integraded carbon trap for rapid PCDD/Fs analysis Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A new cleanup method of dioxins in sediment using large volume injection gas chromatography online coupled with liquid chromatography

A new cleanup method was developed and validated for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in sediment. The sample extract was first treated with sulfuric acid and then cleaned up by a large volume injection gas chromatography online coupled with liquid chromatography (LVI-GC-LC) system. PCDD/Fs in the extract were separated by a GC column (DB-5), selected cut, cool trapped and transferred to a LC column (alumina). The fraction of PCDD/Fs eluted from the alumina column was collected and concentrated for the instrumental analysis. Under the optimized conditions, LVI-GC-LC method achieved the recoveries of 57–102% for 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, which met the requirements of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1613 and were better than those obtained using the conventional multistep column cleanup method. Meanwhile, compared with the conventional method, the limit of detection (LOD) values of 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs cleaned up by LVI-GC-LC method were decreased due to the high-efficiency removal of interferents. These results suggested that the LVI-GC-LC cleanup method was a promising alternative to the multistep cleanup procedure for the determination of dioxins in environmental samples.     

Development of new cleanup method of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans in fish by freezing-lipid filtration

Freezing-lipid filtration as a new method has been developed for the rapid determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) in biological samples. This method can effectively reduce the time of sample pretreatment, labor and amount of solvents compared with conventional methods. By freezing-lipid filtration procedure, about 90% of lipids in extract could be removed without any significant loss of PCDD/Fs. For further cleanup of extracts after freezing-lipid filtration, automatic parallel LC columns including silica gel, alumina and carbon columns were applied. During automatic parallel LC columns cleanup, most of co-extracted interferences such as residue lipids and fatty acids could be eliminated and dioxins could be separated from many other dioxin-like congeners such as polychlorinated biphenyls by this procedure. The extracts after cleanup were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC)/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) using an isotope dilution method. The average recoveries and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 17 native congeners in the spiked fish samples at 8-80 pg/g (n = 3) were ranged between 85.3 and 117.2% and 5.7-20.3%, respectively.     

同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱法检测烟道气中的低氯代二恶英

建立了同位素稀释高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱检测烟道气中痕量低氯代二恶英的分析方法。采用索氏提取富集烟道气样品中的目标物,提取液经过复合硅胶柱和碱性氧化铝柱净化后,进行高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱检测。采用DB-5MS毛细管色谱柱（30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm）分离,以保留时间和同位素特征离子丰度比定性,以与同位素的峰面积比值定量。实验结果表明,方法的回收率为66.6%~112.5%,相对标准偏差（RSD）的范围为19.9%~40.5%（n=5）,方法的检出限（LOD）为0.027~0.485 μg/L。应用该方法检测了3个焚烧炉烟道气样品,回收率在85.7%~137.0%范围内,样品中目标物含量分布在11.4~9183 pg/Nm³之间。结果表明该方法适合用于烟道气中痕量低氯代二恶英的检测。     

Method development for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in single extract of sediment samples

A comprehensive method was developed for quantitative analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) in one single extract of environmental samples. The sample preparation procedure included two fractionation steps using silver nitrate silica chromatography to separate PBDEs from PCBs and PCDD/Fs and florisil column to separate PCBs from PCDD/Fs. Acidic silica, acidic alumina and gel permeation chromatography (GPC, for PCBs) or activated carbon column (for PCDD/Fs) were used for further clean-up. The sample extracts were analyzed by using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The entire method was validated from the analysis of mixed standards of PBDEs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs (n = 3); the analysis of certified reference biota (WMF-01). The method was applied for the analysis of 10 sediment samples collected from Haihe River and Dagu Drainage River in Tianjin City. No significant PBDEs pollution was found in the areas.     

Evaluation of a new automated cleanup system for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in environmental samples

An automated cleanup system (Power-Prep, Fluid Management Systems, Inc.) was evaluated for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) in environmental samples. The study was firstly carried out against standard mixtures containing labeled and unlabeled PCDD/PCDF and a certified reference material (fly ash CRM 490). Next, a comparison between a conventional cleanup procedure and the new automated system for PCDD/PCDF analysis in environmental samples such as flue gas emissions, fly ashes, sludges, ambient air and soils was also made. The suitability of the system was finally assessed from the participation in an interlaboratory exercise. Owing to its capability to successfully perform the sample cleanup the Power-Prep apparatus is an alternative to the conventional methods.     

Extractability of dioxins from soil: II. Effects of acid or alkaline pretreatment on the extractability of dioxin homologues from soil samples

The effects of sample pretreatment on the extractability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (CoPCBs) from three suburban soil samples were evaluated. The samples were treated with 0.1?M HCl or 0.1?M NaOH and extracted by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with toluene. In addition, untreated soil samples were subjected to PLE with acetone. The extractability values were compared to values obtained by toluene extraction without pretreatment. Alkaline pretreatment increased the extractability of higher-chlorinated CDDs (HiCDDs), whereas acid pretreatment slightly decreased their extractability. No change in extractability was observed for higher-chlorinated CDFs under any conditions. The extractability of lower-chlorinated CDD/Fs (LoCDD/Fs) and CoPCBs was increased only by acetone extraction. PCDD/F homologue profiles in soil humic acid fractions and those in dead leaves, a major raw material of soil humus, were also determined. These results suggest that the variations in the extractability of dioxin homologues are due mainly to variations in their physical state in the soil, especially their interactions with soil humus.     

Degradation of PCDD/Fs in Fly Ash by Vortex-shaped Gliding Arc Plasma

PCDD/Fs in fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) can be decomposed in non-thermal plasma, more in particular in a vortex-shaped gliding arc. Typical operating conditions are 10 kV voltage, 40 kΩB external current-limited resistor, 11 L/min tangential gas and 2 L/min axial carrier gas flow rates. Degradation efficiencies of PCDD/Fs are respectively 54.9, 61.7 and 66.8 % on mass basis and 60.7, 73.3 and 70.1 % on toxicity basis under N₂, air and O₂ condition. After treatment the morphology of fly ash has changed: needle-shaped crystals increasing, pores and fragments appearing and high-temperature melting showing which is leaded by direct contact with high-temperature core of arc. The results are explained tentatively by the creation of reactive intermediates leading to dechlorination and oxidation of PCDD/Fs and finally producing end-products such as CO₂, CO, HCl and CH₄.     

Influence of the characteristics of soil and fly ash on the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of dioxins.

Several investigations on the extraction of dioxins from soil and fly ash with supercritical fluid have been reported; however, few of them describe the influence of components on the extraction. We extracted dioxins from eight samples with different values of organic carbon content and surface area with supercritical CO(2) at a temperature of 463 K, a pressure of 40 MPa, and using 10% toluene as an entrainer. We researched the influence of the characteristics of soil and fly ash on supercritical CO(2) extraction of dioxins. The results revealed that the extraction efficiencies of PCDD/DFs and PCBs were high for all soil samples, while that of fly ash samples decreased with the increase in organic carbon content and surface area. The extraction efficiencies of dioxins from four standard samples, activated carbon, humic acid, alumina, and florisil, were also examined. The results revealed that the extraction efficiencies were strongly influenced by activated carbon like components present in the samples.     

Optimization of a method for determining dioxin in whole blood samples based on solvent extraction and simplified cleanup

Dioxins, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), such as mono-ortho-PCBs and non-ortho-PCBs, are environmental pollutants that have deleterious effects on human health. Although screening of blood samples for dioxins is necessary, the current methods are time-, reagent- and labor-intensive. To optimize the extraction and cleanup of dioxins, we have designed a column chromatography method, coupled with a water washing step. We used a tandem simplified multilayer silica gel-activated carbon dispersed silica gel column (TS-ML-AC) rather than the conventional two columns. We compared three liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) methods and two pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) methods, when used with this column. For each of these extraction methods, we compared the quantity of lipid obtained when the water washing step was omitted and when it was performed by shaking 30 times by hand or 30 min by a machine. We found that TS-ML-AC was superior to the conventional pair of columns in that only about one third of the solvent and only one quarter of the time was necessary. Of the five extraction methods, the acetone/hexane PLE (AcP) method was superior, since it reduced the amount of organic solvent to half or less of the amount required for the LLE methods. The cleanup step using water was best accomplished by the hand-shaking method. Our results indicate that, for the analysis of dioxin in whole blood samples, the use of AcP together with TS-ML-AC and water washing by hand shaking should be used.     

Selective pressurized liquid extraction for multi-residue analysis of organochlorine pesticides in soil

A selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) procedure capable of performing simultaneous extraction and clean-up has been demonstrated for multi-residue analysis of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soil. The final method was performed at 100 degrees C for 3 x 10 min using acetone/n-heptane (1:1, v/v). Florisil was placed inside the extraction cell downstream the sample to remove interfering compounds. Extraction of two soil samples by SPLE gave a recovery which was over 80% for beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE compared to PLE with off-line clean-up. The same trend was observed when applying the SPLE method to a certified reference soil sample (CRM 811-050) containing 13 OCPs, where the SPLE method gave 80-90% recovery vis-à-vis the PLE method with off-line clean-up. Feasibility of the SPLE method was further demonstrated by applying it to five real soil samples collected in Ethiopia.