Analysis of organic pollutants in sewage by supercritical fluid extraction

Summary Analytical methods have been developed for the determination of organic pollutants of intermediate polarity in sewage. Water samples are first passed through a solid phase adsorption cartridge. The analytes are then extracted from the absorbent with supercritical CO₂ into a small volume of trapping solvent. Finally, the extracts are analyzed directly by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The various parameters (pressure, temperature, type and concentration of modifiers, trapping solvent, flow rate and volume of supercritical fluid and equilibrium time) influencing the efficiency of extraction were studied. Extraction efficiencies for the test compounds are >70%, and relative standard deviations are <4.6% (n=3). The methods established were applied to the analysis of sewage at the Lanzhou Wastewater Treatment Plant, China. 66 organic pollutants were detected, of which 15 compounds appeared in the list of priority pollutants suggested by the US EPA.     

Determination of bisphenol A in sewage effluent and sludge by solid-phase and supercritical fluid extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Methods have been developed for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA) residues in municipal sewage and sludge samples. BPA in wastewater samples was enriched with a C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge, eluted with acetone, and converted to the pentafluoropropionyl derivative. For sludge samples, BPA was acetylated and extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide. In both cases, BPA-d16 was used as a surrogate to monitor extraction efficiency. Final analyses of derivatized sample extracts were performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry operating in the electron impact mode. For water samples, mean recoveries and standard deviations were 89 +/- 6, 94 +/- 4, and 85 +/- 7% at fortification levels of 1, 0.1, and 0.025 microg/L, respectively, with a method detection limit of 0.006 microg/L. For solid waste samples, mean recoveries and standard deviations were 93 +/- 5 and 92 +/- 6% at fortification levels of 2.5 and 0.25 microg/g, respectively, and the method detection limit was 0.05 microg/g. For the Canadian samples under investigation, concentrations of BPA ranged from 49.9 to 0.031 microg/L in sewage influent and effluent, and from 36.7 to 0.104 microg/g in sludge.     

Treatment of sewage sludge generated in municipal wastewater treatment plants

This study was designed to evaluate the performance of a cylindrical anaerobic digester in treating secondary sewage sludge. A series of three independent batch experiments was performed for a total operation time of 60 d. The system of anaerobic digestion showed stability conditions, with no noticeable scum or foaming problems. The chemical oxygen demand reduction reached 29, 21, and 45% in sludge and 95, 85, and 82% in supernatant for the three experiments, respectively. Total coliform bacteria levels in the digester ranged from 10⁴ to 10⁵ in influent sludge and from 10⁴ to 10³ in effluent sludge, with an average reduction of 90%. Fecal coliforms of the order of 10⁴ were enumerated in influent sludge and those of the order of 10⁰ were enumerated in effluent sludge, with an average reduction of 99.9%. The studied system had satisfactory results, showing that both organic matter and indicator bacteria levels substantially decrease when the sludge is submitted to anaerobic digestion.     

Determination of 4-nonylphenol and 4-nonylphenol ethoxylates in river sediments by microwave assisted solvent extraction

The efficiency of Microwave Assisted Solvent Extraction (MASE) for the simultaneous determination of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) in river sediments has been evaluated. An optimisation study was carried out in order to identify the variables having the greatest influence on the extraction efficiency. The comparison between the solvents (methanol and acetone-hexane 1:1) shows that the more polar solvent (i.e. methanol) allows a more effective extraction of NP and NPE from sediments. Analytical results show that there is not a considerable improvement by doubling extraction time, while the increase of solvent volume is significant. The comparative study with Soxhlet and pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) methods demonstrates that Microwave Assisted Solvent Extraction is a suitable alternative extraction method for the 4-NP and 4-NPE determination in river sediments, showing an accuracy and precision comparable to those obtained with PLE and better than those obtained with Soxhlet.     

Recovery of 4-nonylphenol and 4-nonylphenol ethoxylates from river sediments by pressurised liquid extraction

The pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) with methanol (100 degrees C and 100 atm) from river sediments was compared with methanolic Soxhlet extraction, the standard method for the sediment analysis. The PLE method showed a precision (average RSD ranged from 6 to 33%) and an accuracy (average recovery 85 and 87% for 4-NP and 4-NPE, respectively) comparable to those of Soxhlet. The extraction was performed on river sediments and no organic carbon content influence was found. The comparative study presented in this paper demonstrates that PLE is an alternative suitable extraction method for 4-nonylphenol and 4-nonylphenol ethoxylate determination in sediments.     

Collection in analytical-scale supercritical fluid extraction

This review is a comprehensive summary of available collection techniques in supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), with emphasis on which parameters are especially important for a successful analyte collection. Environmental, biological and agricultural applications, including several types of sample matrices and analyte groups, are discussed with respect to choice of collection mode and optimization of collection conditions. This review also includes discussions about collection when a modifier is used or when the sample contains large amounts of fat or water, as well as possibilities to achieve enhanced selectivity.     

Improved supercritical fluid extraction of sulphonamides

Summary Different ways used for enhancing the yield of sulphonamides leached from solid supports are reported. Supercritical CO₂ and methanol-modified CO₂ were used as extractants of the target analytes and the impregnation of the solid sample with buffer, derivatization of the analytes and ion-pair formation were assessed. Only the sulphonamide/tetramethyl-ammonium ion-pairs are quantitatively extracted from the solid supports using pure supercritical CO₂, while the other modifications and the presence of a cosolvent lead to recoveries lower than 30% for most of the analytes. Individual separation/quantitation of the analytes was performed off-line using a liquid chromatograph.     

Chlorobiphenyls in sewage sludge; comparison of extraction methods

Six extraction methods for the analysis of PCBs (CB-28, CB-52, CB-101, CB-118, CB-138, CB-153 and CB-180) in sewage sludge were tested. A certified reference material (CRM 392) was used for the evaluation of the performance of the methods. Soxhlet-Dean-Starch with toluene as solvent, Soxhlet with hexane:acetone (2:3), cold digestion/saponification with 2 mol/L KOH in methanol followed by partition with hexane, and sonicated liquid-solid extraction with hexane:acetone (1:1) produced accurate results (97%, 93%, 104%, and 88%, respectively) with acceptable precisions (6.2%, 6.8%, 15% and 12%, respectively). Results in close agreement with the certified value for all congeners were obtained by treatment with BF₃-methanol prior to partition with dichloromethane. However, this is a tedious procedure and involves the use of hazardous compounds. Cyclic steam distillation produced results with an accuracy of around 80% and a good precision (5.2%). The very low consumption of solvents and other expensive chemicals by this technique and the possibility of analyzing the extract directly without clean-up make it an interesting alternative to the more sophisticated methods. Column elution with dichloromethane was found to be less efficient (61%), but it is a rapid, direct method with a low consumption of solvents and it may therefore serve as screening method. Received: 29 April 1997 / Revised: 30 July 1997 / Accepted: 6 August 1997     

Some applications of supercritical fluid extraction

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) exploits the solvation power of fluids at temperatures and pressures close to their critical point. Use of SFE with supercritical CO₂ is reported for the extraction of caffeine and quinine from various plant materials and of morphine from serum. Results are compared with those obtained by extractions with subcritical methanol and tetrahydrofuran, normal organic Soxhlet extractions and solid-phase extraction.     

Chlorobiphenyls in sewage sludge; comparison of extraction methods

Six extraction methods for the analysis of PCBs (CB-28, CB-52, CB-101, CB-118, CB-138, CB-153 and CB-180) in sewage sludge were tested. A certified reference material (CRM 392) was used for the evaluation of the performance of the methods. Soxhlet-Dean-Starch with toluene as solvent, Soxhlet with hexane:acetone (2:3), cold digestion/saponification with 2 mol/L KOH in methanol followed by partition with hexane, and sonicated liquid-solid extraction with hexane:acetone (1:1) produced accurate results (97%, 93%, 104%, and 88%, respectively) with acceptable precisions (6.2%, 6.8%, 15% and 12%, respectively). Results in close agreement with the certified value for all congeners were obtained by treatment with BF₃-methanol prior to partition with dichloromethane. However, this is a tedious procedure and involves the use of hazardous compounds. Cyclic steam distillation produced results with an accuracy of around 80% and a good precision (5.2%). The very low consumption of solvents and other expensive chemicals by this technique and the possibility of analyzing the extract directly without clean-up make it an interesting alternative to the more sophisticated methods. Column elution with dichloromethane was found to be less efficient (61%), but it is a rapid, direct method with a low consumption of solvents and it may therefore serve as screening method. Received: 29 April 1997 / Revised: 30 July 1997 / Accepted: 6 August 1997     

一种煤与两种城市污水污泥混合热解的热重分析

采用热重分析法对一种煤和两种城市污水污泥（S1和S2）及其混合物进行了热解实验研究,揭示了煤和污泥在氮气中的热解特性及污泥对煤热解特性的影响。煤和污泥的热解特性参数不同,主要表现在总失重率、失重速率及挥发分析出温度区间等。煤与污泥S1混合有助于增加样品的热解总失重率,提高失重速率;污泥S1与煤的挥发分析出区间部分重合,污泥灰中含的无机物对煤的热解起到催化效果;煤和S2污泥混合后热解反应过程中无明显相互作用;煤与城市污水污泥混合物的相互作用与样品特性和混合比例有关。     

Behaviour of inorganic constituents of municipal sewage sludge during fluidized-bed combustion

The fate of main heavy metals in municipal sewage sludge (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was investigated using a fluidized-bed reactor. The behaviour of metals in the incinerator was explored by comparing metal contents in the two main ash streams: bottom (in-bed) ash and ash separated by a cyclone (cyclone-catch ash). All metals showed enrichment in the cyclone ash. The ash originating from sewage sludge is thermally quite stable consisting of quartz, hematite, spar(s), mica(s), apatite, and anhydrite. It does not soften nor becomes sticky and does not tend to agglomerate at temperatures up to 950°C.     

A new strategy for supercritical fluid extraction of copper ions

Complexation combined with supercritical fluid extraction was used to extract Cu²⁺. The effects of pressure, temperature, and total volume of CO₂ on the efficiency of extraction were systematically investigated. The extraction recovery was low (57.32%) only by pure supercritical CO₂. Addition of a suitable amount of methanol (v/v=5%) to supercritical CO₂ could enhance the extraction of Cu²⁺ (72.69%, relative standard deviation (R.S.D.)=2.12%, n=3), and the recovery increased largely (90.52%, R.S.D.=2.20%, n=3) in the presence of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100. Reverse micelle formation is presented as a new strategy of improving the extraction of metal ions with supercritical CO₂ in this paper.     

Considerations for analytical supercritical fluid extraction of sulfonyl ureas employing a modified fluid

Important considerations are discussed for analytical SFE method development employing methanol–modified carbon dioxide and solid-phase trapping. The focus of this study was to break the method development procedure into distinct steps so that the origins of low recoveries could be determined conclusively. Sulfonyl urea herbicides were used as probe analytes. Analyte solubility, analyte trapping, analyte trap removal (solid-phase), and extract analysis were all shown to be equally important in achieving quantitative SFE recoveries.     

Pesticide multiresidue analysis of 303 compounds using supercritical fluid extraction.

Compared to generally used solvent extraction methods, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide has the advantages of automation and simple operation in preparing samples for pesticide residue analysis. This report is the outcome of our evaluation of the practicality of SFE for the preparation of samples for pesticide residue analysis. We studied the recovery of 303 compounds with several crops by a simultaneous analytical method of SFE, cartridge column purification, followed by GC/MS determination. We achieved 70 to 120% recovery for more than 80% of the examined compounds.