Determination of non halogenated solvents in industrial wastewater using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and GC-MS

Abstract

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was applied to the analysis of a selected group of non halogenated solvents -all of them classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)- that may be present in diverse industrial wastewaters. Two different fibres (100-PDMS and 85-PA) were selected as SPME adsorbents. The extracted volatile organic compounds were analysed by high resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), following the EPA method 624. Calibration curves and method deletion limits obtained for these solvents using the two SPME fibres are reported. The 100-PDMS fibre provided better sensitivity, but the saturation was reached at a lower concentration than 85-PA fibre. The first fibre (100-PDMS) was applied to the analysis of several textile wastewaters. The method detection limits obtained with this fibre were: 0.1-0.3 μ/L for ethylbenzene m-xylene p-xylene toluene and diisobutyl ketone. In addition SPME and Headspace (HS) detection limits were compared.