Methyl Tert-butyl Ether In Water Samples Research Articles

Fast detection of methyl tert-butyl ether from water using solid phase microextraction and ion mobility spectrometry

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is commonly used as chemical additive to increase oxygen content and octane rating of reformulated gasoline. Despite its impact on enhancing cleaner combustion of gasoline, MTBE poses a threat to surface and ground water when gasoline is released into the environment. Methods for onsite analysis of MTBE in water samples are also needed. A less common technique for MTBE detection from water is ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). We describe a method for fast sampling and screening of MTBE from water by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and IMS. MTBE is adsorbed from the head space of a sample to the coating of SPME fiber. The interface containing a heated sample chamber, which couples SPME and IMS, was constructed and the SPME fiber was introduced into the sample chamber for thermal desorption and IMS detection of MTBE vapors. The demonstrated SPME–IMS method proved to be a straightforward method for the detection of trace quantities of MTBE from waters including surface and ground water. We determined the relative standard deviation of 8.3% and detection limit of 5 mg L −1 for MTBE. Because of short sampling, desorption, and detection times, the described configuration of combined SPME and IMS is a feasible method for the detection of hazardous substances from environmental matrices.

Headspace-solid-phase microextraction using a dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole film coupled to ion mobility spectrometry for analysis methyl tert-butyl ether in water and gasoline

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water using headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) at sub-ng mL −1 concentrations is described. The analysis was carried out using a cooled SPME fiber coated with a film of dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole coupled to ion mobility spectrometry equipped with corona discharge ionization. The headspace-solid-phase microextraction experimental procedures to extract MTBE in water samples were optimized with a dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole coated fiber at a 30 min extraction time, extraction temperature of 40 °C, sodium chloride concentration of 2.5 mol L −1 and desorption temperature of 140 °C. Two linear calibration curves respectively in the ranges of 2–17 ng mL −1 and 10–70 ng mL −1 with detection limits of 0.7 ng mL −1 and 4.9 ng mL −1 were obtained. Relative standard deviations for three replicates in water samples were <10%. The capability of dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole to extract MTBE has been compared with the results obtained based on the literature data for commercial fiber. The results shows that dodecylsulfate-doped polypyrrole, as a solid-phase microextraction fiber coating, is suitable for successful extraction of MTBE having detection limits comparable to what obtained with commercial fibers. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the analysis of MTBE in three ground water samples and regular unleaded gasoline from petrol station in Tehran central district, Iran.

Method detection limit determination and application of a convenient headspace analysis method for methyl tert-butyl ether in water.

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a common groundwater contaminant, introduced to the environment by leaking petroleum storage tanks, urban runoff, and motorized watercraft. In this study. a simplified (static) headspace analysis method was adapted for determination of MTBE in water samples and soil water extracts. The MDL of the headspace method was calculated to be 2.0 microg L(-1) by the EPA single-concentration design method(1) and 1.2 microg L(-1) by a calibration method developed by Hubaux and Vos (Hubaux, A.; Vos, G. Anal. Chem. 1970,42, 849-855). The MDL calculated with the Hubaux and Vos method was favored because it considers both a true positive and a false positive. The static headspace method was applied to analysis of a tap water sample and a monitoring well sample from a gasoline service station, a river sample, and aqueous extracts from soil excavated during removal of a leaking underground storage tank (LUST). The water samples examined in this study had MTTBE concentrations ranging from 6 to 19 microg L(-1). Aqueous extracts of a soil sample taken from the LUST site had 8 microg L(-1) MTBE.