Headspace-solid phase microextraction: useful technique to characterize volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in water reuse applications

Abstract

Sample preparation is an essential step in analysis, greatly influencing the reliability and accuracy, the time and cost of analysis. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a very simple and efficient, solventless sample preparation technique, which has been widely used in different fields of analytical chemistry. In this study, four different polarity SPME fibres coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have been used for the determination of volatile and semi-volatile organic substances from the reverse osmosis (RO) influent in water reuse applications and the results have been compared with those obtained with conventional liquid–liquid extraction. Adsorption of organic foulants on the membrane surface causes organic and biological fouling which also produces flow loss and consequently pressure must be high to maintain the flow. PA and PDMS/DVB/CAR were complementary fibres which together could characterize the organic compounds in the influent water. Organic compounds characterized belong to different families including: aromatic hydrocarbons, linear hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, fatty acids, phenols, nitro-containing compounds, phthalates, fragrance allergens, hormones, halogenated compounds, acetate derivates, sulphur-containing compounds, amines and sugars. In addition, RO-influent water values of total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand and colour were analysed during the study in order to complement water analysis.