Abstract
An Ethos EZ Microwave Lab Station is employed in the development of a robust and efficient microwave extraction method for organic contaminants of anthropogenic origin in river sediments. The extraction method is designed for a small, representative set of target compounds encompassing a range of physicochemical properties. Listed in order of gas chromatography elution they are para-cresol, indole, 4-tert-octylphenol, phenanthrene, triclosan, bisphenol-A, carbamazepine, and benzo [a] pyrene. The sediments samples are extracted wet, which reduces preparation time, and allows the ambient moisture of the sediments to aid in microwave energy absorption and the extraction process. The microwave can hold up to 12 samples that can be simultaneously extracted allowing for rapid sample preparation. Utilizing the pressurized vessels, microwave energy, and a unique mixture of three organic solvents allows for multiple samples to be extracted rapidly with minimal solvent consumption. The final extracts are quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Recoveries of the 8 target compounds in sediment range from 49% to 113%, and method detection limits range between 14 and 114 μg kg–1, which are comparable with other more time consuming methods.
Highlights
Surface waters have historically been burdened with a variety of pollutants including suspended solids, nutrients and pathogens [1]
The initial consideration for method optimization involved the choice of solvent, which can influence both sample extraction and cleanup efficiency
A 7:3 DCM/EtOAc was substituted for the hexane/acetone resulting in improved recovery of the target compounds and a reduction in background noise
Summary
Surface waters have historically been burdened with a variety of pollutants including suspended solids, nutrients and pathogens [1]. There are “emerging pollutants” which include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, surfactants, flame-retardants, plasticizers and other endocrine disrupting compounds that may not be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants. These anthropogenic organic compounds (AOCs) find their way into the environment in a number of different ways. Many AOCs including PAHs, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, detergent metabolites, and more enter surface water in the effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants [5,6]. AOCs that make their way into sediments are known to have longer half-lives than in soil, water or air, because of the usually low temperatures and mostly anaerobic environment [13,14]. AOCs with large octanol water partition coefficients tend to preferentially partition into the sediment from the water [15], and may bioconcentrate or biomagnify in living organisms and their predators, respectively [16]
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