Determination of PCBs in river sediment samples—proficiency test for selected Polish laboratories

Eighteen Polish laboratories participated in a proficiency test for the determination of PCBs in river sediment. The participants used their in-house method. The aim of the exercise was to obtain information about the state of the art of PCB analysis in environmental samples. Five PCBs (IUPAC nos. 52, 118, 138, 153 and 180) were selected for the test. The relative standard deviation of the analytical results submitted varied from 45 to 65%, with an outlier rate of 7%. The averages of the results for all analytes were in good agreement with reference values.     

Ion-pair extraction and GC-MS determination of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates in aqueous environmental samples

A GC-MS method was developed for the determination of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) and sulphophenylcarboxylic acids (SPC) in aqueous environmental samples. LAS and SPC were isolated from aqueous samples using methylene green (MG) as ion-pair reagent and derivatised with diazomethane for their chromatographic analysis. LAS and SPC were then analysed with GC-MS in EI mode as their methyl esters. The method eliminates positive and negative interferences found by the methylene blue method and considered to be selective and sensitive for the determination of LAS and SPC in aqueous samples. The recovery of LAS was 98% with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 2.0% and the detection limit obtained from calculations by using GC-MS results based on S/N:3 was lower than 10 ppb. Obtained results revealed that the method can also be employed in the analysis of organic compounds bearing sulphate and sulphonate groups.     

Multivariate optimization of solvent extraction with 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonates for the determination of total and labile Cu and Fe in river surface water by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure for simultaneous solvent extraction of Cu(II) and Fe(III) from river surface waters as diethyldithiocarbamates (DDC) 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetonates into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) has been developed prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Experimental design approaches were used in order to obtain the best compromise conditions for simultaneous solvent extraction. Variables such as pH, sodium DDC or 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanodione (H(TFA)) concentrations, reaction time, IBMK volume and extraction time have been optimized. First, Plackett–Burman designs involving 13 experiments and 2 replicates were used as screening designs to determine which variables were significant. DDC or H(TFA) concentration, as well as pH and IBMK volume were found statistically significant and they were finally optimized by applying a central composite design (15 experiments and 2 replicates). Optimum values for these variables were selected for compromise extraction conditions of Cu(II) and Fe(III) species. An optimum pH of 5.3 was chosen for Cu–H(TFA) and Fe–H(TFA) formation with an optimum H(TFA) concentration of 0.20% (m/v). The optimum IBMK volume for extraction was 8 ml, allowing a pre-concentration factor of 10. A microwave-assisted peroxydisulfate oxidation was used to break down the metal–organic matter complexes in river surface waters in order to assess the total Cu and Fe contents. Applying the experimental design approach, optimum conditions was an irradiation for 5.0 min at a microwave power of 500 W using 0.5 g of ammonium peroxydisulfate. The method was applied to determine total Cu and Fe contents and also labile Cu(II) and Fe(III) contents in several river surface water samples.     

Determination of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole in river water by HPLC

Summary A method is proposed for the determination of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole in river waters using multi-electrode electrochemical detection HPLC. 2-mercaptobenzothiazole determination is unsatisfactory by gas chromatography as it degrades readily on the column. Multielectrode electrochemical detection HPLC combines sensitivity and the ability to screen out other electrochemically active species. The development work leading up to the proposed method is discussed. The method has a limit of detection of 0.798gl^–1 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and a total standard deviation of 2.06gl^–1 2-mercaptobenzothiazole at a concentration of 7.97gl^–1 2-mercaptobenzothiazole in river water.     

Simultaneous determination of two serine proteinases by hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Summary An LC clean-up procedure based upon a complexation between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and silica with chemically bonded 2,4-dinitroaniline has been combined with GC/MS. The LC pre-separation makes it possible to obtain a relatively clean fraction of PAHs free from alkanes, alkylbenzenes and naphthalenes, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and many other interfering compounds. This fraction has been analyzed using capillary GC and mass selective detector (MSD). Substantial improvement of the MS spectra of PAHs with three or more fused benzene rings is achieved.     

Use of Experimental Design to Develop a Method for Analysis of 1,3-Dichloropropene Isomers in Water by HS-SPME and GC–ECD

A simple and reliable method has been established for determination of cis and trans-1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCP) in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) then GC–ECD. An experimental design with two steps was performed to determine the best experimental conditions for extraction of the 1,3-DCP isomers. First, a 2⁶⁻² fractional factorial design was conducted to screen for significant conditions. Second, a central composite design (CCD) was performed to optimise the variables. The best experimental extraction conditions were: polydimethylsiloxane–divinylbenzene (PDMS–DVB)-coated fibre, 20-min extraction time, 12 °C extraction temperature, 300 g L⁻¹ NaCl, and 20 mL headspace volume in 40-mL vial. Under these conditions the method detection limit (MDL) was 0.5 ng L⁻¹ for cis-1,3-DCP and 1.0 ng L⁻¹ for trans-1,3-DCP. The method quantification limit (MQL) was 1.2 ng L⁻¹ for cis-1,3-DCP and 3.0 ng L⁻¹ for trans-1,3-DCP. For both isomers the relative standard deviation (RSD) for analysis of 50 ng L⁻¹ or 0.5 μg L⁻¹ of the isomer mixture was less than 8%. When the proposed method was applied to surface (river) water and tapwater samples from Gipuzkoa province (Spain) the target analytes were not detected. The method was also used to investigate the presence of the isomers in leachates from agricultural soil. A mixed solution was added to samples of two different soils and 1,3-DCP isomers were quantified in leachate obtained from the samples.     

Evaluation of zirconium as a permanent chemical modifier using synchrotron radiation and imaging techniques for lithium determination in sediment slurry samples by ET AAS

In the present paper, lithium was determined in river sediment using slurry sampling and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) after L’vov platform coating with zirconium (as a permanent chemical modifier). The performance of this modifier and its distribution on the L’vov platform after different heating cycles were evaluated using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and imaging scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The analytical conditions for lithium determination in river sediment slurries were also investigated and the best conditions were obtained employing 1300 and 2300 °C for pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, respectively. In addition, 100 mg of sediment samples were prepared using 4.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃. The Zr-coating permitted lithium determination with good precision and accuracy after 480 heating cycles using the same platform for slurry samples. The sediment samples were collected from five different points of the Cachoeira river, São Paulo, Brazil. The detection and quantification limits were, respectively, 0.07 and 0.23 μg l⁻¹.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetric Determination of Paraquat at Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Hydroxyapatite

The voltammetric behavior of paraquat was investigated at hydroxyapatite‐modified carbon paste electrode HAP‐CPE in K₂SO₄. A method was developed for the detection of the trace of this herbicide, based on their redox reaction. The reduction peaks of paraquat were observed around ?0.70 V and ?1.00 V (vs. SCE) in square‐wave voltammetry. Experimental conditions were optimized by varying the accumulation time, apatite loading and measuring solution pH. Calibration plots were linear under the optimized parameters over the herbicide's concentration range 8–200×10^?7 mol L^?1, with a detection and quantification limits about 1.5×10^?8 mol L^?1 and 6.4 10^?8 mol L^?1, respectively.     

Determination of trace metals in Nile River and ground water by differential pulse stripping voltammetry

The determination of trace metals in river water and ground water by DPSV is seriously disturbed by the presence of organic complexes. The influence of these substances can be eliminated by acidification of the samples with acids. Cd, Pb and Cu were determined at pH 1.1 (HNO₃ medium) and Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu at pH 2 (HCl medium), in both the Nile river and ground water. Zn was determined at pH 3.5 in HCl and pH 4.5 in HNO₃, after neutralizing the samples with NH₃/NH₄Cl buffer. Manganese could then be determined, after further addition of ammoniacal buffer solution up to pH 7.5 and 8.5. Ni and Co were determined in the adsorptive mode after formation of dimethylglyoximates at pH 9.2. The effect of pH on the stripping peaks of manganese was studied. Good agreement was observed between DPSV and AAS results for Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Mn, but the concentrations of Ni and Co were below the detection limits for AAS. Good agreement was obtained between DPSV results in HCl and HNO₃ for Ni and Co. The results indicate that decomposition of organic complexes by acidification with HNO₃ is better than in the case with HCl for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Co, but HCl is better than HNO₃ for Cd and Mn.