Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology—AQUA Vol 58 No 6 pp 405–415 © IWA Publishing 2009 doi:10.2166/aqua.2009.040

Determination of chlorinated organic compounds in aqueous matrices

B. Pavoni, A. Giacometti and M. Bragadin

Thirteen pure volatile, semi-volatile and non-volatile chlorinated organic compounds of molecular weights ranging from trichloroethylene (MW = 131.39 g mole^-1) to hexachlorobenzene (MW = 284.78 g mole^-1) were determined in aqueous matrices by GC-ECD. After 10% salt addition, different extraction tests were performed using fibres whose adsorbing phase was based on microsphere carbon particles characterized by a constant size. Five experimental parameters were optimized: extraction temperature and time, position of the fibre in the GC injector port, desorption temperature and time. The optimized analytical protocol was employed to determine the efficiency of a real activated carbon adsorption plant to remove organic chlorinated pollutants from an industrial wastewater at ng l^-1 levels.

Keywords: aqueous matrix analysis; environmental analysis; extraction techniques; organochlorine compounds; solid phase microextraction; water analysis

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