Quantitative Analysis of Persistent Organochlorines in Samples From Polar Regions a Challenge For The Analytical Chemist

Abstract

The study of the transport and fate of persistent polychlorinated compounds to remote areas such as polar regions requires analytical methods which are capable to detect fg to pg amounts in the main transport medium, the atmosphere, as well as their accumulation in the very short food chain. A list of requirements are given which have to be fulfilled for the detection of such compounds with sufficient reliability. Furthermore, problems observed during sample clean-up, separation and quantification of such low levels are discussed using practical examples, and proposals are made how to avoid them.     

Field dependence of magnetocaloric properties of 20% Cr-doped Pr<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> perovskite

Luffa sponge is an agricultural product with large global production. In this study, we studied the effect of ashing temperature and atmosphere on the physicochemical characteristics of luffa sponge. All of the ashed samples are amorphous materials with porous structures. The luffa sponge ashed in air (LSA) and luffa sponge ashed in nitrogen (LSN) show analogous elemental compositions. However, the oxygen in the air can promote the incineration and combustion of luffa sponge, while nitrogen atmosphere can hinder the decomposition of organic compounds due to carbonization. Their pore characteristics, therefore, vary with temperatures and atmospheres. The BET surface area, total pore volume, and mesopore volume generally increase with ashing temperature, due to the thermal destruction of organic matter in luffa sponge. LSA samples exhibit relatively higher surface area and total pore volume than LSN samples. Their mesopore volumes, however, are comparable, attributed to the preservation of original pores from enlargement under nitrogen atmosphere. With characteristics of low cost, low density, and comparable pore properties with traditional adsorbents, luffa sponge is a potential adsorbent for organic pollutants and a carrier for catalysts.     

MgF2 as a non-conventional catalyst support

This review reports progress in the study of the surface structure of MgF₂ and its use as a support of catalytically active phases. Magnesium fluoride was applied first as a support in catalysis for systems containing individual oxides of transition metals (Mo, V, W, Cu, Cr) and then two different oxide phases (Cu-Cr, Cu-Mn), a metal phase (Ru, Pd) or heteropolyacids. Its use as a support enabled determination of the structure and surface properties of these catalysts. The MgF₂-supported catalysts are characterized by high activity and selectivity in such processes as: hydrodechlorination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrodesulfurization of organic compounds and purification of fuel combustion products from nitrogen oxides. Magnesium fluoride has been also used in MgF₂-doped chromium or aluminum fluoride catalysts for Cl/F exchange on hydrochlorocarbons.     

NMR diffusion analysis of surfactant-humic substance interactions

Surfactants can be introduced into the environment through wastewater or by direct contamination. Understanding the fate and transport of surfactants in the environment is important in assessing their role as pollutants. Humic substances are complex heterogeneous mixtures of decomposition products of natural organic materials. They are environmentally important because they are known to solubilize and transport organic pollutants. Therefore humic substances are likely to affect the environmental fate of surfactants. Diffusion coefficients measured with pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are used in this study to examine the intermolecular interactions of the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the presence of various humic substances. These results indicate that humic substances enhance the aggregation of SDS prior to micellization with a more pronounced effect observed for the more hydrophobic humic materials. The positively charged surfactant CTAB forms stable ion pairs with the humic substances.     

The evaluation of time variation global warming effects, TWPA and CWP, for CFC alternatives

Evaluations methods of global warming are presented by considering the direct warming effect of chemical compounds and of decomposed compounds, warming effect due to the formation of troposphere ozone, and the cooling effect due to the decomposition of stratosphere ozone. It is easy to take account the stabilization of global warming gases concentration in the atmosphere, as those methods can conduct the time variations analysis. The methods are named Total Warming Prediction Analysis (TWPA) and Composite Warming Potential (CWP). The evaluation of Mobile Air Conditioning refrigerant is presented as an example of application of our method.     

Atmospheric fate of methacrolein. 1. Peroxy radical isomerization following addition of OH and O2

Peroxy radicals formed by addition of OH and O(2) to the olefinic carbon atoms in methacrolein react with NO to form methacrolein hydroxy nitrate and hydroxyacetone. We observe that the ratio of these two compounds, however, unexpectedly decreases as the lifetime of the peroxy radical increases. We propose that this results from an isomerization involving the 1,4-H-shift of the aldehydic hydrogen atom to the peroxy group. The inferred rate (0.5 ± 0.3 s(-1) at T = 296 K) is consistent with estimates obtained from the potential energy surface determined by high level quantum calculations. The product, a hydroxy hydroperoxy carbonyl radical, decomposes rapidly, producing hydroxyacetone and re-forming OH. Simulations using a global chemical transport model suggest that most of the methacrolein hydroxy peroxy radicals formed in the atmosphere undergo isomerization and decomposition.     

Ultrasonic Decomposition of Ammonia‐Nitrogen and Organic Compounds in Coke Plant Wastewater

The investigations of the ultrasonic decomposition of NH₃‐N and organic compounds (i.e., COD_Cr) in coke plant wastewater are presented in this work. The process parameters were controlled with respect to the presence (or absence) of air atmosphere, initial pH value, initial concentration, and ultrasonic power density in the process of ultrasonic decomposition. It is noted that the ultrasonic removal efficiencies for both the NH₃‐N and the COD_Cr were increased in the presence of the air atmosphere and significantly affected by the initial pH value. The removal efficiencies increased with increasing the ultrasonic power density while they decreased with increasing the initial concentration. The effects of n‐butyl alcohol as an effective OH radical scavenger on the removal efficiencies indicates that the ultrasonic decomposition of the NH₃‐N was carried out mainly via the mechanism of thermal decomposition in cavitation bubbles or in the interfacial region, whereas the ultrasonic decomposition of the COD_Cr mainly resulted from the reactions with OH radicals in the bulk solution. The GC/MS analysis indicates that most of the organic compounds in the wastewater were effectively destroyed by ultrasound.     

Enhanced preconcentration of selected chlorofluorocarbons on multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polar functionalities

Chromatographic monitoring of chlorofluorocarbons in air requires the preconcentration of these highly volatile species. In this paper, we present functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as effective sorbents for a microtrap designed for chlorofluorocarbons preconcentration. Among the commercial carbons and carbon nanotubes studied, functionalization via carboxylation and propyl amine was most effective for dichlorofluoromethane and trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11), which were selected as representative chlorofluorocarbons. The results show that carbon nanotubes functionalized with a polar groups led to as much as a 300% increase in breakthrough volume and the desorption bandwidth was reduced by 2.5 times.     

Thermodynamic Model of Formation of the Organic Component of Volcanic Gases in Equilibrium Degassing Processes

Equilibrium thermodynamics was used for searching for stability ranges of organic compounds in volcanic gases. A new algorithm for calculating the equilibrium composition of a multicomponent fluid was proposed, feasible for constructing equilibrium composition trajectories at varied external conditions for systems comprising 30-40 components. The results of the thermodynamic modeling were compared with the compositions of the organic component in gases of a series of volcanoes. Thermodynamic and chemical conditions of formation of organic compounds in volcanic gas were formulated. The global emission of halomethanes to the Earth's atmosphere was estimated.     

Clustering of nonpolar organic compounds in lipid media: evidence and implications

Semivolatile and nonpolar organic compounds, such as persistent organic pollutants, have a tendency to accumulate in organic matter phases from air and water. Once they enter living systems, they partition into lipids/waxes and can exert adverse toxicological effects. The current paradigm assumes that such chemicals are uniformly distributed in organic phases such as soil organic matter, plant waxes, and animal lipids and that partitioning and adsorption processes occur independently of intermolecular contaminant interactions. With use of a recently developed technique, two-photon excitation microscopy coupled with autofluorescence allowed us to directly visualize novel organic chemical behavior in living vegetation and other matrixes. Here, we show for the first time that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which were uniformly distributed in pure oils and waxes at the beginning of a study, form clusters over time. The number and diameter (typically 0.2-5 microm) of these clusters are dependent on the physical-chemical properties of the compound-media systems and time. This behavior is not accounted for in current models of phase partitioning of chemicals and may have important implications for understanding their environmental fate and their potential toxicological effects.     

Mutual solubilities of hydrocarbons and water with the CPA EoS

The knowledge of hydrocarbon/water phase equilibria is important in the design and operation of equipment for petroleum transport and refining and petrochemical plants. The presence of water in a hydrocarbon mixture can affect the product quality and damage the operation equipment due to corrosion and formation of gas hydrates. Tracing the concentration of hydrocarbons in aqueous media is also important for technical purposes like preventing oil spills and for ecological concerns such as predicting the fate of these organic pollutants in the environment.     

胆固醇基键合相-反相高效液相色谱法测定正辛醇/水分配系数

通过反相高效液相色谱法系统地考察了中性和弱酸性化合物在新型胆固醇基键合相色谱柱（Cholester柱）上的保留行为。以甲醇和乙腈为有机调节剂,建立了保留因子（k）与有机调节剂比例（φ）间的关系,并外推获取100%水相为流动相时的log k_w;同时进一步建立并验证了不同流动相下正辛醇/水分配系数的对数（log K_ow）和log k_φ（log k_w）间的模型,并预测了部分化合物的log K_ow。结果表明,使用Cholester柱测定log K_ow时,甲醇比乙腈更适合作为有机调节剂;对中性化合物和中性状态的酸性化合物,可以用任意甲醇比例下获取的log k_φ预测log K_ow;对存在离解的酸性化合物,依然用外推方式获取的log k_w预测log K_ow。将采用Cholester柱与文献中采用C₁₈柱、C₈柱建立的log K_ow-log k_φ模型进行对比,结果表明化合物与胆固醇基键合相存在特别的作用。     

Entrapment of Humic Acid in a Sol-Gel Matrix—A New Tool for Sorption Studies

Humic substances are natural complexed mixtures of organic compounds originated from the decomposition of plant and animal residues. These compounds are ubiquitous in soils, sediments, surface waters and groundwaters. They contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties, able to interact with hydrophobic organic contaminants and with heavy metals. These sorption interactions play a crucial role in contaminants fate and transport and their understanding and quantification are essential for modeling and predictions. However, sorption analyses frequently suffer from experimental problems. A novel idea presented in this study is to use sol-gel as an inert matrix to immobilize (entrap) specific, well defined, humic molecules which then be used in sorption studies. We developed a successful procedure for the immobilization of humic acid (HA) in a sol-gel matrix. After gelation and drying, the doped gel was crushed and washed several times, yielding a very stable product. It was then used in a series of batch experiments, studying the sorption of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with Aldrich HA. The sorption coefficients (K _oc) obtained with the immobilized HA were highly correlated with the values expected based on the hydrophobicity of the contaminants. We concluded that the entrapped HA retained its original properties and that it was accessible to the external contaminants through the pore network.     

Determination of trace levels of total fluorine in water using combustion ion chromatography for fluorine: a mass balance approach to determine individual perfluorinated chemicals in water

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) such as perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) have received worldwide attention because of their environmental persistence and widespread distribution. Because of the lack of robust analytical methods and standards to detect all of the PFCs, and their precursors and metabolic intermediates, a mass balance approach involving the determination of total fluorine (TF), followed by fractionation of samples to separately determine inorganic and organic fluorine, is needed. In this study, we have developed a method to determine low microg/L levels of total fluorine (TF) in seawater samples. Further, seawater samples were fractionated into organic and inorganic fractions by extraction with organic solvents, which were then analyzed for TF, extractable organic fluorine (EOF) and inorganic fluorine (IF; i.e., fluoride). Concentrations of known perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including PFOS and PFOA were also determined in water samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to enable calculation of the fraction of fluorine that is contributed by PFCs to TF. A major proportion of fluorine in seawater was in the form of fluoride (>90% in locations not affected by direct discharges). Nevertheless, within the organofluorine fraction, a major percentage (60-90%) of fluorine still remains unknown in water samples, suggesting the occurrence of other fluorinated acids in addition to known perfluorinated acids. Further studies are needed to identify and quantify the unidentified organofluorines in seawater. Mass balance analysis of total organic fluorine (TOF) and EOF is important, if we are to understand transport and fate of fluorinated compounds in the environment, and if we are to identify the sources of unidentified fluorinated compounds.     

Comparative Study on Decomposition of CFCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> in Thermal and Cold Plasma

Decomposition of CFCl₃ was investigated in an RF inductively coupled thermal reactor in neutral, oxidative and reductive conditions, and in a silent electric discharge (cold plasma) in neutral and oxidative conditions, respectively. In RF thermal plasma reactor, in neutral conditions, mainly gaseous products and minor amount of solid soot was formed. About 50% the soot could be extracted by toluene. Both the gas phase and the extract contained a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including chlorine and fluorine containing polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In oxidative conditions much less soot was formed as compared to the neutral case. The solid product contained about 45% extractable fraction even in oxidative conditions. However, the extract contained less PAHs than in neutral conditions. In reducing atmosphere the soot yield was similar to the neutral case, but the soot contained 29% extractable fraction only. The extract consisted of polyhalogenated aromatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons as main components. In neutral conditions different chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and chlorine were detected as gaseous products in cold plasma. In oxidative conditions, as final products of decomposition CO₂, CFCs and Cl₃ were formed.     

Organic pollutants adsorbed on microplastics: Analytical methodologies and occurrence in oceans

The massive use of plastics in several products has generated microplastic debris worldwide. Besides their negative effect on marine organisms by ingestion, microplastics are a contamination vector due to their capacity to transport organic pollutants around our planet. To evaluate the magnitude of this issue, it is necessary to know what kinds of contaminants are adsorbed on microplastics, as well as their concentrations. In order to assess the adsorption and desorption of pollutants from microplastics, effective and reliable extraction procedures are required. In this overview, literature reports, in which extraction, separation and determination methods have been applied to analyse the organic pollutants adsorbed on microplastics, are revised and discussed. Furthermore, the worldwide occurrence of organic compounds found on microplastics in oceans is reviewed and the results obtained from different geographical areas and their global distribution trends are compared. Priority organic pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, hexachlorocyclohexanes, polychlorinated benzenes, perfluoroalkyl substances or bisphenol analogues, have been widely found on microplastic samples. Future research that focuses on different kinds of emerging pollutants is required.     

Accretion Product Formation from Self‐ and Cross‐Reactions of RO2 Radicals in the Atmosphere

Hydrocarbons are emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in very large quantities by human and biogenic activities. Their atmospheric oxidation processes almost exclusively yield RO₂ radicals as reactive intermediates whose atmospheric fate is not yet fully unraveled. Herein, we show that gas‐phase reactions of two RO₂ radicals produce accretion products composed of the carbon backbone of both reactants. The rates for accretion product formation are very high for RO₂ radicals bearing functional groups, competing with those of the corresponding reactions with NO and HO₂. This pathway, which has not yet been considered in the modelling of atmospheric processes, can be important, or even dominant, for the fate of RO₂ radicals in all areas of the atmosphere. Moreover, the vapor pressure of the formed accretion products can be remarkably low, characterizing them as an effective source for the secondary organic aerosol.     

Thermogravimetric analysis of peat decomposition under different oxygen concentrations

Smoldering combustion of peat is of global concern as a natural hazard to consume sequestered carbon and form wide-area haze. It is affected by thermal decomposition kinetics of peat and the diffusion and availability of oxygen. In this work, thermal decomposition behavior of peat was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis under the atmosphere with different oxygen concentrations. The results showed that thermal decomposition process of peat could be divided into three stages: dehydration, oxidative pyrolysis of organic matters into volatiles and char, and oxidation of the generated char. The apparent activation energies of peat decomposition under different oxygen concentrations were calculated by model-free methods of Kissinger, FWO, Starink, Gyulai, and Friedman. A two-step reaction model was proposed to describe thermal decomposition kinetics of peat (excluding dehydration stage) and the effect of oxygen concentration on the kinetic parameters was discussed. These results provide basic data for smoldering modeling of peat.     

Selective separation of essential phenolic compounds from olive oil mill wastewater using a bulk liquid membrane

Olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) is very rich in phenolic compounds especially the key compounds of caffeic acid (CA), hydroxytyrosol (HTY), and tyrosol (TY). Therefore, the development of new and effective analytical and industrial methods for the separation and concentration of these valuable compounds has attracted great attention in the last decades. In this study, a selective transport and separation method for CA, HTY, and TY from OMWW samples, obtained from different olive orchards, using a new bulk liquid membrane (BLM) procedure was developed. Various factors influencing the transport efficiency such as pH of the source and receiving phases, nature and volume of the organic membrane, stirring rate, and transport time were investigated and optimized. Under optimal experimental conditions, the transport efficiencies of CA, HTY, and TY from the OMWW samples of 90.1 %, 28.4 %, and 34.9 % were obtained, respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 7) were found to be 4.1 %, 3.8 %, and 3.0 % and the limits of detection (LODs) obtained were 0.001 mg L^?1, 0.011 mg L^?1, and 0.008 mg L^?1, for CA, HTY, and TY, respectively.     

氟里昂催化分解研究进展

氟里昂分解已成为当今环保技术的热点之一,本文论述了氟里昂催化分解的必要性,优越性,介绍了氟里昂催化分解的概况和最新进展,并指出了今后的研究方向。