Ion trap LC/MS characterisation of toxic polar organic pollutants in colour photographic wastewaters and monitoring of their chemical degradation

Abstract

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation‐ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐ITMS) with positive mode of operation was successfully applied to the characterisation of aromatic amines and chelating agents in colour photographic wastewaters. In addition to residual ingredients, monomers and dimers of sulphonated aromatic amines were the main toxic polar organic pollutants found. Oxidation of wastewater components by the Fenton‐like reagent (Fe3++ H2O2) was investigated by continuously pumping a solution of hydrogen peroxide. Iron concentration, present in the wastewater as ferric carboxylate complexes, was typically above lg 1‐1, and therefore addition of Fe3+ was not necessary for treatment. Operating variables like reagent feeding concentration and flowrate, temperature and pH were studied. The overall chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal reached 90% after 7.5 h of treatment when the dosage of hydrogen peroxide was 230 g per litre of effluent, the pH was about 4 and the temperature was 60 °C. The absence of toxics in the treated effluents was confirmed by the Photobacterium phosphoreum luminescence reduction test. Monitoring of the chemical degradation of aromatic amines and chelating agents by LC/ESI‐ITMS proved that the Fenton's like reagent was effective in degrading them. Propylenediamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA) was found to be the more recalcitrant compound, however about 97% of degradation was achieved after 7.5 hours of treatment.