Determination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Coastal and River Sediments by Pressurized Liquid Extraction Coupled with Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry

This study presents a time‐ and solvent‐saving method, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), to extract polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment samples. The effects of various operating parameters (i.e., extraction solution, temperature, pressure, static/dynamic extraction times) for the quantitative extraction of PBDEs by home‐made PLE were systematically investigated and optimized. The analytes were then identified and quantitated by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The 16 PBDE congeners (from tri‐ to deca‐BDE) can be completely extracted by dichloromethane: n‐hexane (3/2, v/v) at 100 °C and 100 atm combined with 15 min static and then 15 min dynamic extraction steps. Recovery of PBDEs in spiked sediment samples ranged from 52 to 104% with 2‐16% RSD, except for BDE‐206. Limits of quantitation (LOQ) were established between 4 and 400 pg/g (dry weight) in 10 g of sediment sample. The extraction efficiency of the PLE was also compared with the traditional Soxhlet extraction method. The total contents of PBDEs ranged from 8.0 to 37.9 ng/g (dry weight) in various river and coastal sediment samples in Taiwan. Deca‐BDE (BDE‐209) was the major PBDE detected in these sediment samples.     

Evaluation of Soxhlet extraction, accelerated solvent extraction and microwave-assisted extraction for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soil and fish samples

Three commonly applied extraction techniques for persistent organic chemicals, Soxhlet extraction (SE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), were applied on soil and fish samples in order to evaluate their performances. For both PCBs and PBDEs, the two more recent developed techniques (ASE and MAE) were in general capable of producing comparable extraction results as the classical SE, and even higher extraction recoveries were obtained for some PCB congeners with large octanol-water partitioning coefficients (K_ow). This relatively uniform extraction results from ASE and MAE indicated that elevated temperature and pressure are favorable to the efficient extraction of PCBs from the solid matrices. For PBDEs, difference between the results from MAE and ASE (or SE) suggests that the MAE extraction condition needs to be carefully optimized according to the characteristics of the matrix and analyte to avoid degradation of higher brominated BDE congeners and improve the extraction yields.     

Development of an analytical method for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge by the use of gas chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants. As a consequence of their widespread use, they have been released into the environment. PBDEs are lipophilic organic contaminants that enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from urban, agricultural and industrial discharges. Because of their low aqueous solubility and resistance to biodegradation, up to 90% of the PBDEs are accumulated in the sewage sludge during the wastewater treatment. To assess the possibilities for sludge re-use, a reliable determination of the concentrations of these PBDEs is of crucial importance. Six PBDE congeners (BDE 28, BDE 47, BDE 99, BDE 100, BDE 153 and BDE 154) are listed as priority substances under the EU Water Framework Directive. In the present work a simple analytical method with minimal sample-preparation steps was developed for a sensitive and reliable determination of the six PBDEs in sewage sludge by the use of gas chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICP-MS). For this purpose an extraction procedure was optimised. Different extracting agents (methanol (MeOH), acetic acid (AcOH)/MeOH mixture (3:1) and 0.1 mol L⁻¹ hydrochloric acid (HCl) in MeOH) followed by the addition of a Tris-citrate buffer (co-extracting agent) and iso-octane were applied under different modes of extraction (mechanical shaking, microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extraction). Mechanical shaking or the microwave-assisted extraction of sewage sludge with 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HCl in MeOH and the subsequent addition of the Tris-citrate buffer and the iso-octane extracted the PBDEs from the complex sludge matrix most effectively. However, due to easier sample manipulation during the extraction step, mechanical shaking was used. The PBDEs in the organic phase were quantified with GC-ICP-MS by applying a standard addition calibration method. The spike recovery test (recoveries between 95 and 104%) and comparative analyses with the species-specific isotope-dilution (ID) GC-ICP-MS confirmed the accuracy of the developed analytical procedure. The procedure is sensitive (limits of detection (LODs) for PBDEs congeners between 0.2 and 0.3 ng g⁻¹), repeatable and reproducible (RSDs 2.2–5.7%) and was applied for the determination of PBDEs in sewage sludge samples collected three times at the municipal WWTP over a period of 16 years.     

Analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sewage sludge by matrix solid‐phase dispersion and isotope dilution GC–MS

A method for the determination of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sludge from wastewater treatment plants is presented. PBDEs were extracted by matrix solid‐phase dispersion assisted by sonication and determined by isotope dilution gas chromatography with electron impact mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode, using labelled ¹³C‐PBDEs as internal standards. The limits of detection and quantification for the tri‐ to hepta‐BDEs were in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 ng/g dry weight and 0.15 to 1.8 ng/g dry weight, respectively, and 1.6 ng/g dry weight and 5.6 ng/g dry weight for deca‐BDE‐209. The proposed analytical method was applied to determine PBDE levels in sewage sludge samples collected from 19 water treatment plants located in the province of Madrid (Spain). In all of the examined samples, BDE‐100 and BDE‐154 were the main compounds found with a mean concentration of 3.9 and 2.0 ng/g, respectively. PBDEs were detected in all of the samples, and their total concentrations not considering BDE‐209 were between 3.9 and 23.0 ng/g dry weight. The dominant PBDE congener in sewage sludge was BDE‐209, which constituted 38.7 to 97.3% of the total, and showed concentration levels ranging from 8.1 to 717.2 ng/g dry weight.     

气相色谱-负化学源质谱快速测定母乳中的多溴联苯醚

建立了母乳中8种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs：BDE28,BDE47,BDE99,BDE100,BDE153,BDE154,BDE183,BDE209)的气相色谱-负化学源质谱测定方法(GC-NCI/MS)。样品经索氏提取、酸化硅胶除脂、硅胶氧化铝色谱柱净化后,在7 m长的毛细管气相色谱柱上快速分离,NCI/MS以选择离子监测模式测定目标化合物。其中,三溴～七溴联苯醚采用内标法定量,十溴联苯醚(BDE209)采用同位素稀释法定量。8种PBDEs的检出限为1.74～6.35 pg/g(以脂肪计)。加标回收试验的回收率为61.5%～108%,相对标准偏差为2.06%～10.1%(n=6)。并采用母乳参考物质进一步证实了该方法的准确可靠。该方法提高了BDE209的分析灵敏度,而且分析成本相对较低,分析时间短,适于推广。     

鱼肉组织中多溴联苯醚的定量分析

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类广泛用于家用电器、电子产品、塑料泡沫、家居装饰材料等行业的添加型阻燃剂[1],使用量最多的是五溴联苯醚(penta-BDE),八溴联苯醚(octa-BDE)和十溴联苯醚(deca-BDE)3种[2]。最近的研究表明[4-6],多溴联苯醚已广泛地存在于各种环境介质、生物体及人体中     

Analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by liquid chromatography with negative-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS): application to house dust

Eight polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners of primary interest to the US EPA were separated using reverse-phase liquid chromatography on an octadecylsilane column. BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, and BDE-209 were baseline-resolved under isocratic conditions in 92:8 methanol/water (v/v). Negative-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization (NI-APPI) with a toluene dopant produced precursor ions corresponding to [M–Br+O]^– for the eight congeners studied. Each congener was quantified by tandem mass spectrometry through a unique multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transition. On-column limits of detection were between 2.4 and 27.8 pg for the eight congeners studied, with an intra-day method precision of 9%. The LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS method was validated for the analysis of the eight PBDE congeners in NIST SRM 2585 (Organics in House Dust). Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with subsequent LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS analysis afforded quantitative recovery for all eight PBDE congeners with recoveries ranging from 92.7 to 113%. The liquid-phase separation of the LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS method is not prone to the thermal degradation issues that plague splitless GC based analyses of highly brominated PBDEs such as BDE-209.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from house dust with supercritical 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a)

The extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from SRM 2585 (Organic Contaminants in House Dust) was investigated using supercritical fluid R134a as an extraction solvent. Three methods of dust extraction were studied: (1) extraction of dry dust, (2) extraction of dry dust dispersed on Ottawa sand and (3) extraction of dust wet with dichloromethane. For each of the three sample preparation methods, extracts at three temperatures (110, 150, and 200 °C) above the critical temperature of R134a were performed. Eight PBDE congeners (BDE-28, -47, -99, 100, -153, -154, -183, and -209) in the SFE extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography negative-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS). The optimum extraction of PBDEs from house dust using supercritical R134a is obtained when the dust is pre-wet with dichloromethane prior to extraction to swell the dust. For all sample preparation methods, higher temperatures afforded higher percent recoveries of the eight PBDE congeners. Only a combination of high-temperature (200 °C) and pre-wetting the dust with dichloromethane produced high recovery of the environmentally important, fully brominated PBDE congener, BDE-209.     

超声辅助碱解萃取-气相色谱-电子捕获检测器测定海洋沉积物中8种多溴联苯醚

将超声辅助碱液分解杂质与溶剂萃取相结合,采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测(GC-ECD)建立了一种快速高效净化、萃取海洋沉积物中8种常见多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的分析方法。样品在2.00 mol/L NaOH甲醇溶液中超声30 min,经正己烷萃取、单层硅胶净化、正己烷洗脱、旋蒸浓缩后定容至100 μL,采用GC-ECD分析。结果表明,PBDEs各单体的加标回收率为63.6%~110.3%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.7%~15.5%(n=5);十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)的检出限为0.097 ng/g,其他7种单体的检出限为0.002~0.011 ng/g(信噪比为3)。该方法的准确度和精密度较高,稳定性和回收率良好,可满足沉积物中PBDEs的分析要求。利用建立的方法测定了渤海表层沉积物中PBDEs的含量,8种PBDEs总含量在1.566~6.760 ng/g之间,其中BDE-209的含量为1.461~6.438 ng/g,总体呈现出由近岸向远岸递减的趋势,表明人为活动、表层冲刷和陆地河流的输入对渤海地区PBDEs的含量有重要影响。     

New perspective on the determination of flame retardants in sewage sludge by using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with different ion sources

Analysis of 11 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A bis 2,3-dibromopropylether (TBBPA-bis), tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) was optimized by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) operating in negative ion (NI) mode. Electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources were tested and for PBDEs APCI gave higher sensitivity than APPI while for TBBPA-bis APCI and APPI showed similar performance. ESI was the best option for TCBPA, TBBPA and HBCDs. Detection limits were between 20 and 59 fg for the compounds analyzed by ESI, 0.10 and 0.72 pg for PBDEs and 6 pg for TBBPA-bis. The matrix effect of sewage sludge extract was also tested showing negligible ion suppression for APCI and an increase of the background level of all investigated pollutants leading to a worsening of the limits of quantification by a factor between 1.2 and 3.3. The UPLC-APCI/MS/MS method for PBDEs, after pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), was validated by comparison with the concentration values from the NIST 1944 standard reference material. The advantages of the methods include low detection limits, PBDE congeners specificity using selected multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions, and the absence of thermal degradation of higher PBDE congeners, especially BDE-209. The methods were applied for the determination of the above reported flame retardants in sewage sludge in order to get more information about the degradation on PBDEs (in particular BDE-209) during municipal wastewater treatments.     

气相色谱-质谱法检测沉积物中自由态与束缚态多溴联苯醚和四溴双酚-A

建立了一种同时测定沉积物中不同赋存形态的多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)和四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的分析方法.样品由等体积的丙酮和正己烷混合溶剂抽提得到自由态目标物,再通过碱性水解反应释放束缚态目标化合物.通过调节酸度(pH值)实现PBDEs和TBBPA的分离和提取.PBDEs由复合硅胶柱净化,运用气相色谱-质谱(负离子化学源)-分时段选择离子监测技术测定;TBBPA经重氮甲烷衍生化反应后由酸性硅胶柱预纯化,运用气相色谱-质谱(电子轰击源)-分时段选择离子监测技术测定.8种低溴联苯醚(BDE28,-47,-66,-100,-99,-154,-153,-183),十溴联苯醚(BDE209)和TBBPA的检出限分别为0.6～12.5 pg/g,172 pg/g,4 2 pg/g.方法具有良好的准确度和精确度,回收率均在74%～106%之间,RSD≤10%.对东江沉积物样品的分析表明,本方法能够实现不同形态的PBDEs 和TBBPA的有效检测.     

Determination of 41 polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soil using a pressurised solvent extraction and GC-NCI-MS method

A rapid and reliable analytical method based on pressurised solvent extraction (PSE) and GC-NCI-MS was developed for the determination of 41 different PBDEs in soil. All PBDEs, including mono- to hepta-BDEs (sum of 39 congeners), one nona-BDE and deca-BDE, were efficiently extracted from soil samples using the extraction technology of PSE. The extract was then cleaned up on a florisil column. Satisfactory separation of 41 PBDE congeners was obtained on a 15-m DB-5MS capillary column, saving the use of another 30-m column specific for the separation of mono- to hepta-BDEs. PBDEs were identified and quantified by GC-MS in negative chemical ionisation (NCI) mode, and further confirmed in semi electron impact (SEI) mode when the ion source was also NCI. The method detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 0.03?ng?g^?1?dw for mono- to hepta-BDEs, 1.43?ng?g^?1?dw for the nona-BDE and 0.20?ng?g^?1?dw for deca-BDE. The applicability of the method was tested in soil samples collected from an e-waste recycling site at Guiyu. Twenty-one PBDEs (mono- to deca-) were detected, and eighteen congeners were quantified. The concentration range of PBDEs was 0.78–436?ng?g^?1?dw. BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153, BDE-183, BDE-206 and BDE-209 were the dominant congeners, and BDE-209 accounted for 62% of the total PBDEs. The congener profiles of PBDEs in soil samples were similar to those in three commercial PBDE products (Penta-, Octa- and Deca-BDE), and Deca-BDE product was the most important contributor.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in marine biological tissues using microwave-assisted extraction

Growing concern on the environmental impact of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has created the need for rapid and quality assured analytical methods to quantify PBDEs in a spectrum of matrix types. This study presents the first validated method for the quantification of major PBDE congeners (47, 99 and 100) in marine biological tissues using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The recovery of polychlorinated biphenyls and various organochlorine pesticides has also been ascertained. Analytical accuracy, precision, limits of detection and cleanup efficiency were evaluated for PBDE congeners, and empirical data justifies the use of MAE for the extraction and analysis of PBDEs in biological matrices. MAE was also compared to Soxhlet extraction efficiency for PBDEs in the standard reference materials SRM2978 and SRM1588a and gave comparable results (<15% variation).     

Instrumental methods and challenges in quantifying polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental extracts: a review

Increased interest in the fate, transport and toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) over the past few years has led to a variety of studies reporting different methods of analysis for these persistent organic pollutants. Because PBDEs encompass a range of vapor pressures, molecular weights and degrees of bromine substitution, various analytical methods can lead to discrimination of some PBDE congeners. Recent improvements in injection techniques and mass spectrometer ionization methods have led to a variety of options to determine PBDEs in environmental samples. The purpose of this paper is therefore to review the available literature describing the advantages and disadvantages in choosing an injection technique, gas chromatography column and detector. Additional discussion is given to the challenges in measuring PBDEs, including potential chromatographic interferences and the lack of commercial standards for higher brominated congeners, which provides difficulties in examining degradation and debromination of BDE congeners, particularly for BDE 209.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated naphthalenes concentrated on semipermeable membrane devices

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has been evaluated as an alternative to dialysis for the extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) sampled by semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS).For MAE optimization a two level full factorial design 2³, plus a centre point, which involves 11 randomized runs was used. The results showed that the temperature had a significant influence on the extraction of the nine PBDEs and four PCNs tested. Also, the solvent volume had a positive influence on the extraction of PBDEs and PCNs, but only in latter compounds, it achieves statistical significance. The time had only statistical significance for the most volatile specie studied, PCN-54. The selected MAE conditions (60 mL of hexane-acetone, 1:1 (v/v), 85 °C, 1 min, two cycles) lead to recoveries between 72 and 91% for PBDEs and between 96 and 103% for PCNs. The applicability of the MAE extraction was tested in field SPMDs deployed for 20 days in a sewage treatment plant.The MAE method developed is about 300 times faster than the conventional dialysis and remarkably reduces the solvent consumption.     

超声辅助萃取气相色谱-质谱法测定松针中的多溴联苯醚

建立了测定松针样品中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的分析方法。松针样品经过正己烷-丙酮(体积比为1∶1)混合溶液超声萃取、浓硫酸和氧化铝柱净化后,采用气相色谱-负化学电离源质谱(GC-NCI-MS)选择离子监测(SIM)模式检测,内标法定量。结果表明,方法的加标回收率为83.8%~107.5%,三溴~七溴代联苯醚的仪器检出限为0.152~ 0.770 pg,十溴代联苯醚(BDE-209)的检出限为11.1 pg;三溴~七溴代联苯醚的方法检出限(湿重)为3~15 pg/g,BDE-209的方法检出限(湿重)为222 pg/g。方法具有良好的重现性、较高的灵敏度和良好的回收率。实际样品分析表明,松针中BDE-209是主要的同类物,约占8种PBDEs总量的82.3%,低溴代联苯醚以2,2′,4,4′-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)为主。     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with micro electron-capture detection (GCxGC-muECD) was evaluated for the separation of 125 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). From among the six column combinations that were evaluated, DB-1x007-65HT was found to be the most suitable because of: (i) the highest number of BDE congeners separated; (ii) the least decomposition of higher brominated congeners; and (iii) the most suitable maximum operating temperature. The separation of the 125 BDE congeners from five hydroxy- and two methoxy-BDEs and nine other brominated flame retardants (polybrominated biphenyls, tetrabromobisphenol-A, methyl-tetrabromobisphenol-A and hexabromocyclododecane) was also studied. Fluorinated BDEs were found to be valuable internal standards for the determination of BDEs because of their very similar physico-chemical properties and excellent separation from the parent BDEs, mainly in the second dimension. GCxGC-time-of-flight MS and GCxGC-muECD were shown to be useful tools to identify decomposition products of nona- and deca-substituted BDEs, which are formed during the GC run. Three nona-BDEs were shown to be the major decomposition products of BDE 209.     

Large-volume programmed-temperature vaporiser injection for fast gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometric detection of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

A large volume injection fast-GC-MS method has been developed, optimized and evaluated for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, including the decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209). The programmed-temperature vaporiser injection parameters, temperature programming of the GC oven, and the physical dimensions of the narrow bore GC column were investigated to find the optimal operating conditions for the analysis. Depending on parameter settings the yield of the PBDEs and particularly BDE-209, varies significantly. Volumes up to 125 microl were successfully injected and a fast GC separation was performed, with retention times as short as 6.4 min for the last eluting compound, BDE-209. In a pilot study an air sample, collected at an electronics dismantling facility, was analyzed. Low-resolution mass spectrometry in electron capture negative ion mode was used for detection. Nine BDE congeners, including BDE-209, were identified and quantified.     

Influence of the injection technique and the column system on gas chromatographic determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers

In this paper, we present an investigation of the influence of the gas chromatographic separation system on the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Capillary columns, retention gaps and press-fit connectors, as well as different injection techniques have been evaluated with respect to yield and repeatability. The split/splitless injection has been optimized and compared to on-column injection, the septum equipped temperature programmable injector (SPI) and the programmable temperature vaporizing (PTV) injector. Furthermore, a comparison of the different operational modes of the PTV injector is presented. The results show that there are large variations in the yield of PBDEs depending on the column and the injection systems. Especially the high molecular weight BDE congeners can be subject to severe discrimination. Unfavorable conditions can lead to a complete loss of nona and deca substituted BDE congeners.     

Ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionization mode for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in water

A simple and economical method for the determination of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE‐28, 47, 99, 100,153,154,183, and 209) in water was developed. This method involves the use of ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with GC‐MS in negative chemical ionization mode. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including the type and volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, salt concentration, extraction time, and ultrasonic time, were investigated. A volume of 1.0 mL of acetone (dispersive solvent) containing 10 μL tetrachloroethylene (extraction solvent) was injected into 5.0 mL of water samples and then emulsified by ultrasound for 2.0 min to produce the cloudy solution. Under the optimal condition, the enrichment factors for the eight PBDEs were varied from 845‐ to 1050‐folds. Good linearity was observed in the range of 1.0–200 ng L^?1 for BDE‐28, 47, 99, and 100; 5.0–200 ng L^?1 for BDE‐153, 154, and 183; and 5.0–500 ng L^?1 for BDE‐209. The RSD values were in the range of 2.5–8.4% (n = 5) and the LODs ranged from 0.40 to 2.15 ng L^?1 (S/N = 3). The developed method was applied for the determination of eight BPDEs in the river and lake water samples, and the mean recoveries at spiking levels of 5.0 and 50.0 ng L^?1 were in the range of 70.6–105.1%.