A novel method for the determination of a PCB sum value by enzyme immunoassay to overcome the cross-reactivity problem

Many attempts have been made to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). All known ELISAs to PCBs show characteristic cross-reactivity problems. Without any prior information about the composition of the sample, no quantification of the total PCB content is possible. A chemical approach is shown to solve the cross-reactivity problem by the quantitative dechlorination of all PCB congeners to the single compound biphenyl. For the reductive dechlorination palladium on barium sulfate and ammonium formate were used. The dechlorination procedure was optimized to be performed at room temperature in methanol without the exclusion of oxygen or water. For the development of polyclonal biphenyl-antibodies the synthesis of the hapten biphenylhexanoic acid via Grignard cross-coupling is described and an immunization protocol is given. The purity of the used immunological reagents proved to be very crucial. The whole procedure was tested with spiked soil samples. The detection limit for PCBs (Clophen A50) in soil was 1 mg/kg (3.1 μmol/kg). This corresponds to a biphenyl concentration in methanol of 0.1 mg/L (0.6 μmol/L).     

Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrins (RAMEB) Enhance the Aerobic Biodegradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl in Aged-Contaminated Soils

The biological removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from contaminatedsoils is adversely affected by the poor bioavailability of these pollutants. Twodifferent aged-contaminated soils containing about 890 and 8500 mg/kg of PCBswere supplemented with biphenyl and treated in slurry- and solid-phase aerobic0.5 litre-microcosms in the presence of RAMEB at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0% (w/w). RAMEB,which was non-toxic and slowly biodegraded by the soil microorganisms, significantlyenhanced the bioavailability (from 30 to 50%) and the biological degradation (from 15to 55%) and dechlorination of PCBs in both soils and treatment conditions. RAMEBeffects were dependent on the concentration at which it was applied, the soil featuresand the treatment conditions. RAMEB enhanced PCB biodegradation by increasingboth the PCB bioavailability and the availability of biodegrading bacteria in themicrocosms. RAMEB appears a promising bioavailability enhancing agent for thetreatment of PCB-contaminated soils, not only for its positive effects on the PCBsbiodegradation, but also for its biodegradability, non-toxicity and relatively low cost.     

Catalytic dechlorination of Aroclor 1242 by Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles

Ni/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized for treatment of Aroclor 1242, in order to evaluate their applicability for in situ remediation of groundwater and soil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Our experimental results indicate that the total PCB concentration changed during the reduction of 3,5-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB 14), and biphenyl was produced as the final product. Initially, the concentration of 3-chlorobiphenyl (PCB 2) was increased in the prophase reaction and then slowly decreased, suggesting that Aroclor 1242 was first adsorbed by Ni/Fe nanoparticles, and then, the higher chlorinated congeners were converted gradually to the lower chlorinated congeners, and finally to biphenyl. The dechlorination efficiency of Aroclor 1242 reached approximately 80% at 25°C in just 5h, then 95.6% and 95.8% in 10h and 24h, respectively. The study revealed that high Ni/Fe nanoparticle dosage and high Ni content in Ni/Fe nanoparticles favor the catalytic dechlorination reaction. Moreover, a comparison of different types of catalysts on the dechlorination of Aroclor 1242 indicated that Ni/Mg and Mg powders showed a greater reactivity than Ni/Fe and Fe nanoparticles, respectively.     

Diol sep-pak cartridges for enrichment of polychlorobiphenyls and chlorinated pesticides from water samples; determination by GC-ECD

Summary Gas chromatography of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in water samples has been performed after adsorption from a 20–200-mL sample on to a cartridge containing 100 mg diol-bonded porous silica. The PCBs are desorbed with 500 μL ethyl acetate, which is concentrated and analysed by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The average recovery of 0.1 ng mL⁻¹ PCB congeners from distilled water and from Aniene river water is≥95% (standard deviation≤2.8). Average recoveries of 25 ng mL⁻¹ Aroclor 1254 from distilled water and from Aniene river water were, respectively, 94.4% and 92.5% (standard deviation 5.8). In the separation of PCB congeners from the chlorinated pesticides only the aldrin (40%) was eluted with the PCBs from the diol Sep-Pak cartridge by aqueous methanol. The method described is simple and reproducible.     

Characterization of a monoclonal TNT-antibody by measurement of the cross-reactivities of nitroaromatic compounds

The characterization of a commercially available monoclonal antibody directed against the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is reported. The cross-reactivities of various nitroaromatic compounds have been determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Byproducts and metabolites of TNT were examined as well as the azo dye Disperse Blue 79 and its major metabolites (2-bromo-4,6-dinitroaniline and 2-chloro-4,6-dinitroaniline, respectively). By investigation of the cross-reactivities of different spacer derivatives of TNT it could be demonstrated that the bridge-recognition of the antibody is not very pronounced. N-(2,4,6-Trinitrophenyl)-methylamine shows the highest cross-reactivity (240%) of the examined compounds. Additionally, affinity constants of several nitroaromatic compounds have been determined. The affinity constant of TNT has been calculated to 1.3 × 10⁹ L/mol from the minimal midpoint (IC50 value) of the standard curve. The detection limit achieved for TNT was 0.06 μg/L; the midpoint of the optimized assay was 0.34 μg/L. Received: 17 July 1998 / Revised: 28 December 1998 / Accepted: 1 January 1999     

Multicomponent determination of cobalt, copper, and iron with 1,10-phenanthroline by principal component regression modelling of spectrophotometric data

The rotational energy barriers were determined for twelve of the nineteen environmentally stable atropisomeric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), viz. PCB 84, 131, 132, 135, 136, 144, 149, 174, 175, 176, 183, and 196, by thermal racemization of enantiomerically pure PCBs. The rate of racemization was primarily determined using off-line gas chromatography (GC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with permethylated cyclodextrin (PMCD) as the chiral selector. GC was used for PCB 84, 132, 136, 149, 174, and 176, while PCB 131, 175, and 196 were analyzed using HPLC. The remaining PCBs, i.e. PCB 144 and 183, were separated by HPLC using a Chiralpak OP(+) polymethacrylate column. Gibbs free energy of activation (Δ^‡G) was 176.6 to 184.8 kJ/ mole for tri-ortho PCBs. For tetra-ortho PCBs the Δ^‡G was estimated to be ∼246 kJ/mole. A buttressing effect of 6.4 kJ/mole was observed for tri-ortho PCBs that have one buttressing chlorine. Received: 19 October 1998 / Revised: 26 November 1998 / Accepted: 28 December 1998     

A new advanced method for heterogeneous catalysed dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in hydrocarbon solvent

The dechlorination of PCBs with solid hydrazine hydrochloride catalysed by palladium, in an organic solvent, yields biphenyl in short reaction times. The catalyst system can be efficiently reused for several cycles. Ultrasonication of the heterogeneous catalysed reaction increases the dechlorination rate remarkably. The reactivity of the C---Cl bond on the PCB ring are in the order meta>paraortho.     

Determination of triallate and its metabolite 2,3,3-trichloro-prop-2-en-sulfonic acid in soil and water samples

A method based on solid phase extraction was developed for the determination of the herbicide triallate and its metabolite 2,3,3-trichloro-prop-2-en-sulfonic acid (TCPSA). Soil samples were extracted with methanol and diluted with water to yield a methanol/water ratio of 1 : 4. Triallate was adsorbed on C₁₈ cartridges while TCPSA was enriched on quaternary amine anion exchange resins. Cartridges were eluted with methanol/ethyl acetate and methanol/sulfuric acid mixture, respectively. TCPSA methyl ester was formed using trimethyl orthoformate and subsequently analyzed by GC/ECD. Determination limits of both target compounds were 5 μg/kg soil with recoveries of 100 ± 12% for triallate and 57 ± 5% for TCPSA. In water analysis, determination limits were 0.05 μg/L with recoveries of 84 ± 14% for triallate and 100 ± 22% for TCPSA. In laboratory batch experiments, concentration of triallate decreased from 2690 to 1550 μg/kg soil within 59 days. 14 days after triallate application, TCPSA was determined to be 14 μg/kg which increased to 98 μg/kg soil at the end of the incubation period. Soil/water distribution coefficients in loamy sand soil were 102 for triallate and 0.02 for TCPSA which indicated a higher leaching tendency of the polar metabolite. Received: 2 July 1997 / Revised: 15 September 1997 / Accepted: 25 September 1997     

An internal surface reversed phase column for the effective removal of humic acid interferences in the trace analysis of mecoprop in soils with coupled-column RPLC-UV

In the development of a screening method for the determination of residues of mecoprop in soils involving coupled-column RPLC-UV (228 nm) the cleanup performance of a 5 μm GFF-II internal surface reversed phase (ISRP, Pinkerton) analytical column (50 × 4.6 mm I.D.) as a first column was investigated. In comparison to an analytical C18 column the ISRP column substantially improved the separation between acidic analyte and co-extracted humic substances. Under the selected coupled-column conditions soil extracts obtained after hydrolysis with an aqueous alkaline solution, acidifying and centrifugation could be analyzed directly allowing the determination of mecoprop in soils to a level of about 0.02 mg/kg. A rapid concentration step on a 100 mg C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge was adopted into the procedure providing a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 0.01 mg/kg of mecoprop in soil. The method was validated by analyzing freshly spiked soil samples and samples with aged residues. In case of freshly spiked samples the overall recovery was 87% (n = 18, spiked level 0.02–8.0 mg/kg) with a repeatability of 6.8% and a reproducibility of 8.3%. No significant decrease of the recovery was observed for samples with aged residues (n = 15, spiked level 0.1 and 8.0 mg/kg) during a storage of 29 days in the refrigerator at about 4 °C; a storage of 67 days provided a mean recovery of 76% (n = 14, spiked level 8.0 mg/kg). Received: 4 May 1998 / Revised: 11 July 1998 / Accepted: 18 July 1998     

Certification of total arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenobetaine contents in a tuna fish powder (BCR-CRM 627)

Tuna fishes were collected in the Straits of Messina (Italy), were dissected and dorsal muscles minced, freeze-dried, ground and sieved. The obtained powder was stabilised by γ-irradiation and filled into brown glass bottles. The homogeneity and stability at +20 °C and +40 °C were verified with regards to the total arsenic, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenobetaine contents. Ten laboratories participated in the certification study. All participants had demonstrated beforehand their ability to produce accurate results for the As speciation in fish tissue. The certified values are: total arsenic (4.8 ± 0.3) mg/kg, arsenobetaine (52 ± 3) μmol/kg, dimethylarsinic acid (2.0 ± 0.3) μmol/kg. The material is available from the BCR since early 1998. Received: 31 March 1998 / Revised: 20 July 1998 / Accepted: 25 July 1998     

Highly sensitive semi-quantitative field test for the determination of chromium (VI) in aqueous samples

A method for the semi-quantitative colorimetric determination of chromium(VI) at sub μg/L levels after sorptive preconcentration is presented. The method is based on the retention of the reaction product (preformed in liquid phase) between Cr(VI) and diphenylcarbazide on membrane embedded cation exchange material. The color intensity of the membrane can be correlated to Cr(VI) concentrations in the range 0.05–50 μg/L (i.e. almost three orders of magnitude lower than the conventional spectrophotometric procedure) with a detection limit of about 10 ng/L (using 50 mL of sample volume). Due to the visual inspection mode and comparative color detection the precision is only 30–80% rsd which, however, is regarded as sufficient for screening purposes. Analysis of real samples including different kinds of waters and extracts of soil and filter collected airborne particulate matter demonstrated the applicability of the method for fast and species selective screening. Recovery experiments generally gave reasonably good results, yet also revealed the risk of the conversion of chromium species during sample pretreatment procedures due to redox reactions. Received: 1 December 1997 / Revised: 23 February 1998 / Accepted: 10 March 1998     

Pd修饰Ti电极对水相中2,4,5-PCB还原脱氯的研究

实验研究了Pd修饰Ti电极对甲醇/水相中十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)增溶的2,4,5-PCB(PCB: 多氯联苯)的电化学还原脱氯作用. 采用两室流通式电解池, 考察了Pd负载量、电极结构、电场条件和溶液流速对2,4,5-PCB的去除效率的影响. 优化条件是: Pd负载量为3 mg•cm-2, 阴极为3层电极极板, 电极电位为－1.10 V(vs SCE); 溶液流速对脱氯效率的影响不明显. 在该条件下经过9 h电解, 2,4,5-PCB的去除率达96.2%, 脱氯产物未完全生成联苯, 其产率为89.6%, 电流效率介于11.3%~33.0%之间.     

Sequential solid-phase extraction with cyanopropyl bonded-phase cartridges for trace enrichment of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides from water samples

Summary Gas chromatography of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in water samples has been performed after adsorption from a 50–250 mL sample on to a cartridge containing 100 mg cyanopropyl-bonded porous silica. The PCBs are desorbed with 500 μL ethyl acetate, which is concentrated and analysed by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The average recovery of 1 ppb PCB congeners at from distilled water and from Marta river water is ≥95% (standard deviation ≤2.5). The average recovery of 20 ppb Aroclor 1260 from Marta river water was ≥91% (standard deviation ≤3.5). In the separation of the PCBs from the chlorinated pesticides only aldrin, heptachlor and 4,4′-DDD are adsorbed with the PCBs by the CN Sep-Pak cartridge. The method proposed is rapid, simple and reproducible.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls,dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soil samples from airport areas of Croatia

Levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied in surface soil samples collected in the coastal part of Croatia within and surrounding four different airports and in the vicinity of two partially devastated electrical transformer stations. The compounds accumulated from air-dried soil samples by multiple ultrasonic extraction with an n-hexane?:?acetone 1?:?1 mixture were analysed by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and ion-trap detection. PCBs were quantified against a standard Aroclor 1242/Aroclor 1260 mixture and a standard mixture of 17 individual PCB congeners (IUPAC No.: 28, 52, 60, 74, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 170, 180, and 189). The mass fractions of total PCBs in 18 soil samples collected within the airport premises ranged from 3 to 41?327?µg/kg dry weight (dw) (median: 533?µg/kg?dw), and those in 21 samples collected at a distance ranging from several metres to 5?km away from the airport fence, from <1 to 39?µg/kg?dw (median: 5?µg/kg?dw). The highest PCB levels were determined in soils along the airport aprons where the aircrafts were serviced and refuelled. The PCB pattern was very similar to technical Aroclor 1260 in all airport soils. The PCB pattern in 22 soils collected in the vicinity of electrical transformer stations was dominated by congeners contained in Aroclor 1242. These soils contained 7 to >400?µg/kg?dw of total PCBs. One highly PCB-contaminated airport soil sample was analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). With an international toxic equivalent (I-TEQ) of 9.7?ng/kg?dw, the airport soil contamination was within values typical for urban and rural areas, and the congener patterns gave no clear indication for PCBs as the only source of PCDDs/PCDFs.     

Analysis of Chlormequat residues in grain using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

A fast, sensitive and specific method for routine determination of residues from Chlormequat (CAS no. 7003-89-6) is described. The method is based on a simple clean-up using an SPE-C₁₈ cartridge, high-performance liquid chromatography on a standard C₁₈ column (Spherisorb S5 ODS1) and specific detection and quantification by electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). ¹³C-Chlormequat was synthesised for use as internal standard. Samples were extracted with methanol – water – acetic acid. Internal standard and ammonium acetate were added before C₁₈-cartridge clean up and residues eluted with methanol – water – acetic acid, containing 50 mM ammonium acetate. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a solvent composed of acetonitrile – methanol – water – acetic acid (53:21:25:1 by volume), containing 50 mM ammonium acetate. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry was employed using m/z 58 (daughter ion of the Chlormequat quaternary ammonium ion, m/z 122) and m/z 61 (daughter ion of the ¹³C-Chlormequat quaternary ammonium ion, m/z 125) for quantification. The LC analysis time was 15 min and the limit of detection of the analytical method was 9 μg/kg. The performance of the method was demonstrated analysing grain material from an inter-comparison study. In Denmark the primary use of Chlormequat chloride (CCC, cycocel, or chlorocholin chloride, CAS no. 999-81-5) is for winter cereals and 11 such winter wheat samples from the Danish National Pesticide Survey were analysed. Residue contents were from below 0.01 up to 0.45 mg/kg, and thus below the EU maximum residue level of 2.0 mg/kg for wheat. Received: 22 December 1997 / Revised: 29 January 1998 / Accepted: 31 January 1998     

Quantitation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-residues after hydrodechlorination to biphenyl using liquid chromatography with UV-detection

Summary A method for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) via the dechlorination to biphenyl by LiAlH₄ in dodecane has been developed. The use of a high pressure liquid Chromatograph, monitoring with an UV-detector at 248 nm and a 7 m Silicagel column with more than 5000 theoretical plates for biphenyl increased the sensitivity of the dechlorination method remarkably. It is now comparable in sensitivity to the perchloration methods, i.e. the detection limit is at 100 ng absolute for PCB's. Overall yields better than 90% have been obtained, when using standard solutions containing 0,1–20 g absolute of PCB Clophen A 30 or A 60.The DDT-group, chloro-naphthalines and polychloro-terphenyls can be determined simultaneously with the polychloro-biphenyls by the same procedure.

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Quantifizierung von Rückständen der polychlorierten Biphenyle (PCB) durch Hydrodechlorierung zum Biphenyl und Flüssig-Chromatographie mit UV-Detektion

Zusammenfassung Polychlor-biphenyle (PCB) lassen sich mit LiAlH₄ in Dodecan zum Biphenyl hydrodechlorieren. Das Biphenyl kann nach Hochdruckflüssig-Chromatographie (Säule: Merck Hibar, Si60, 7 m, Bodenzahl 5000, Länge 25 cm, Elutionsmittel: n-Heptan) mit UV-Detektion bei 248 nm bestimmt werden. Für die Derivatisierungsreaktion wurden bei Mengen von absolut 0,1–20 g PCB (Clophen A 30 oder A 60) Ausbeuten besser als 90% bestimmt. Die Nachweisgrenze für Derivatisierung, Trennung und Bestimmung liegt bei 100 g PCB absolut. Unter Berücksichtigung eines möglichen Aufgabevolumens von 100 l wird in der Gesamtheit die Nachweisstärke der Perchlorierung der PCB zum Decachlorbiphenyl erreicht.Unter gleichen Bedingungen ist die Bestimmung der DDT-Gruppe, der Chlor-naphthaline und der Polychlor-terphenyle über ihre Stammkohlenwasserstoffe möglich.

     

Real-time immuno-PCR assay for detecting PCBs in soil samples

A fast and robust assay, based on immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) techniques, was developed for the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil samples. Real-time IPCR (rt-IPCR) is a powerful technique that combines enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the specificity and sensitivity of PCR. In our assay, indirect ELISAs based on immobilization of PCB37 hapten–ovalbumin conjugates was used for evaluation of the immune response. The effect of optimal reagent concentrations to reduce background fluorescence was also investigated. Using the optimized assay, the linear sensitivity range of the assay covered more than six orders of magnitude, and the minimum detection limits reached 5 fg ml^–1 antigen. Rt-IPCR was tested for its cross-reactivity profiles using four selected congeners and four Aroclor products. The assays were highly specific for congeners but less specific for Aroclor1242. We took four soil samples to validate the method, and the results were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The rt-IPCR results for soil samples correlated well with the concentrations of PCBs obtained by GC/MS (r = 0.99, n = 6). These data indicate that this highly specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be modified for detecting PCB compounds in the environment.     

Determination of Cu, Zn and Cd in water by FAAS after preconcentration by baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) immobilized on sepiolite

By using the adsorbent Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on sepiolite an adsorption-elution method was developed for the preconcentration of Cu, Zn, and Cd followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Recoveries were 98.3 ± 0.4% for Cu, 94.2 ± 0.3% for Zn, and 99.04 ± 0.04% for Cd at 95% confidence level obtained by the column method. The influence of sea water matrix elements on the separation of the trace elements was also assessed by using the column procedure. The breakthrough capacities were found to be 74 μmol/g for copper, 128 μmol/g for zinc and 97 μmol/g for cadmium. After optimization the proposed method was applied to the trace metal determination in sea and river water. Received: 8 June 1998 / Revised: 8 September 1998 / Accepted: 16 September 1998     

Enantiomer separation of polychlorinated biphenyl atropisomers and polychlorinated biphenyl retention behavior on modified cyclodextrin capillary gas chromatography columns

Seven commercially-available chiral capillary gas chromatography columns containing modified cyclodextrins were evaluated for their ability to separate enantiomers of the 19 stable chiral polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) atropisomers, and for their ability to separate these enantiomers from achiral congeners, necessary for trace environmental analysis of chiral PCBs. The enantiomers of each of the 19 chiral PCBs were at least partially separated on one or more of these columns. Enantiomeric ratios of eleven atropisomers could also be quantified on six columns as they did not coelute with any other congener containing the same number of chlorine atoms, so could be quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Analysis of a lake sediment heavily contaminated with PCBs showed enantioselective occurrence of PCB 91, proof positive of enantioselective in situ reductive dechlorination at the sampling site.     

Application of ion chromatography for the investigation of the anionic and cationic composition in high-purity water production

A suitable and sensitive ion chromatographic measuring system for determining the main components at nanogram to milligram per liter levels in water samples from the electrodeionization process is presented. A modified Dionex system offers the possibility for the determination of anions and cations in the samples at ng/L, μg/L and mg/L levels. The ng/L level of anions and cations in 20–130 mL high-purity water can be analyzed immediately after preconcentration on appropriate exchange columns. The mg/L level samples are successfully determined by use of an auto-sampler. The quantification of each ion is achieved using the suppressor technique and a conductivity detector. Samples are taken from 5 steps of the electrodeionization process and stored in pre-cleaned FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) at 7 °C in darkness prior to the determination of chloride, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Eluents, ultrapure water and samples for the determination of carbonate were passed through special glass containers and flushed with helium gas to avoid the effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Results of the investigation of the cationic and anionic composition in water samples within the electrodeionization process are presented and discussed. Received: 12 October 1998 / Revised: 16 December 1998 / Accepted: 19 December 1998