Assessment of total chlorine and bromine content in semivolatile organic substances in water

Abstract

The integral indicators for assessment of total concentration of chlorine and bromine in semi-volatile organic substances (SVOS) of water are presented. The method is based on liquid/liquid extraction of SVOS from a sample of water (natural, potable, industrial, purified sewage water etc.), concentrating the extract and without derivatization or conversion analyzed by the method of gas chromatography, coupled with atomic emission detecting (GC-AED). In this case the AED operates in two modes: the chlorine selective channel with detection at a wavelength of 479 nm and the bromine selective channel – at 478 nm. Under the given conditions of sample preparation and the chromatographic procedure the components are registered with Kovats retention index on non-polar phases from 900 to 3200. The range of the analytical procedure covers classes of SVOS, such as halogen-containing pesticides, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids, ethers, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phenols and their halogen derivatives. The total concentration of chlorine and bromine is calculated by component-independent calibration which is available by using an AED. The indexes are named Technogenic Organic Chlorine and Technogenic Organic Bromine, because analyzed compounds have technogenic or secondary technogenic origin. The sensitivity of determination is 1×10−6 mg/dm3 for the specified elements.