Characterization of wastewater effluent organic matter with different solid phase extraction sorbents

Abstract

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has received increasing attention due to its impacts on natural and engineered aquatic systems. A comprehensive understanding of molecular compositions of EfOM is crucial for controlling its negative effects and effective removal of it. Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) is a powerful method to characterize molecular compositions of EfOM. However, application of this powerful technique is very depending on the sample preparation procedures (i.e. solid phase extraction, SPE) for enrichment and desalting. In this study, a systematic comparison of the difference in molecular compositions of the EfOM extracted using eighteen different SPE sorbents (Envicarb, PPL, ENV, HLB, C18, C18OH, C8, PH, CH, WAX, WCX, MAX, MCX, CBA, C2, CN-E, NH2, and SI) was investigated. Molecular characterization using FTICR MS showed that non-polar sorbents (Envicarb, PPL, ENV, HLB, C18, C18OH) and mixed mode sorbents (WAX, WCX, MAX, MCX) prefer to extract more aromatic and unsaturated molecules, while strongly-polar (SI), mid-polar (CBA, NH2), and weakly non-polar (C2, CN-E) sorbents prefer to extract more aliphatic components. In addition, it is found that combining extracts of CBA, ENV, and EnviCarb sorbents might be a practical way to provide a comprehensive information of molecular composition of EfOM. The results reported in this study provide valuable information on molecular compositions of EfOM and the selectivity of EfOM by different SPE sorbents.