Determination of selected semi-volatile organic compounds in water using automated online solid-phase extraction with large-volume injection/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

A rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective analytical method was developed for the analysis of selected semi-volatile organic compounds in water. The method used an automated online solid-phase extraction technique coupled with programmed-temperature vaporization large-volume injection gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The water samples were extracted by using a fully automated mobile rack system based on x-y-z robotic techniques using syringes and disposable 96-well extraction plates. The method was validated for the analysis of 30 semi-volatile analytes in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water. For a sample volume of 10 mL, the linear calibrations ranged from 0.01 or 0.05 to 2.5μg·L^-1, and the method detection limits were less than 0.1μg·L^-1. For the reagent water samples fortified at 1.0μg·L^-1 and 2.0μg·L^-1, the obtained mean absolute recoveries were 70%–130% with relative standard deviations of less than 20% for most analytes. For the drinking water, groundwater, and surface water samples fortified at 1.0μg·L^-1, the obtained mean absolute recoveries were 50%–130% with relative standard deviations of less than 20% for most analytes. The new method demonstrated three advantages: 1) no manipulation except the fortification of surrogate standards prior to extraction; 2) significant cost reduction associated with sample collection, shipping, storage, and preparation; and 3) reduced exposure to hazardous solvents and other chemicals. As a result, this new automated method can be used as an effective approach for screening and/or compliance monitoring of selected semi-volatile organic compounds in water.

Keywords

automated solid-phase extraction / programmed-temperature vaporization / large-volume injection / gas chromatography/mass spectrometry / semi-volatile organic compounds / water analysis

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank LEAP Technologies (Carrboro, NC, USA) for providing the technical support of the automated solid-phase extraction system.

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg