Analytical multimethod for the determination of low volatile organic pollutants in sediments and sewage sludges

By means of selected target compounds with different physical and chemical properties an analytical method has been developed for the analysis of a wide variety of low volatile xenobiotics in sediments and sewage sludges. After an exhaustive extraction at different pH values first high molecular matrix compounds have been separated by GPC. Fractionation of the samples into five separate groups of substances has been performed by successive column chromatography using deactivated alumina and silica gel. For the determination of phenols a derivatization step with pentafluorobenzolychloride has been incorporated into the sample preparation. Removal of sulphur and aliphatic hydrocarbons has been accomplished by an additional clean up with TBA-sulfite reagent and silica gel. Recoveries of the most target compounds exceeded 80%.