Barbara Hauser

Membrane-assisted solvent extraction of triazines and other semi-volatile contaminants directly coupled to large-volume injection–gas chromatography–mass spectrometric detection

A simple device was developed for in-vial liquid-liquid extraction using a polymer membrane (nonporous polypropylene) to separate an aqueous sample from an organic extractant. The membrane consisted of tubing with an internal diameter of 6 mm and a wall thickness of 0.05 mm, which was heat-sealed at the lower end and filled with 500 microl hexane. This membrane bag was incorporated into a conventional 20 ml headspace vial suitable for a multi-purpose sampler (MPS 2, Gerstel, Mülheim, Germany) directly interfaced to a gas chromatograph with a mass-selective detector. The sampler enabled the extraction vial to be mixed at a defined temperature with subsequent large-volume injection of the organic extract taken from the membrane bag. The method was evaluated using several triazines, 2,4-dichloroaniline, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane and phenanthrene as model compounds. Extraction parameters such as temperature, agitation speed, and extraction time were optimised. Recoveries of 60-90% were achieved after 30 min extraction. By increasing the injection volume to 100 microl, detection limits of 1-10 ng/l were determined.

Membrane-assisted solvent extraction of organochlorine compounds in combination with large-volume injection/gas chromatography-electron capture detection

Membrane-Assisted solvent extraction is based on a small-scale liquid-liquid extraction with a polymer membrane (low-density polyethylene, LDPE) separating the aqueous from the organic phase. The organic analytes present in the aqueous sample dissolve in the membrane material and pass through it before being enriched in a small volume of organic solvent. As the organic extract is almost completely subjected to GC-ECD using large-volume injection, the volume of both aqueous sample and organic solvent can be minimised. The method was established using chlorobenzenes and HCHs as model compounds and extraction parameters were optimised. Detection limits, the linear dynamic range and reproducibility are shown. Membrane-assisted solvent extraction was applied to the analysis of heavily contaminated groundwater samples, and results were compared to conventional liquid-liquid extraction. The advantages of using a membrane between the two phases are that emulsion formation is prevented and macromolecular compounds and particles from the organic extract are excluded. This makes this extraction technique particularly suitable for complex samples high in organic matter.

Combining membrane extraction with mobile gas chromatography for the field analysis of volatile organic compounds in contaminated waters.

A mobile gas chromatographic device (Airmobtx HC 1000 monitor manufactured by Airmotec, Germany), originally designed for the analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in air, was connected to a flow cell for dynamic membrane extraction. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) diffuse out of a water stream through a hollow fibre, are enriched onto sorption tubes integrated in the mobile device, and are then thermally desorbed and analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection. Battery operation of the device enables continuous on-site analysis of VOCs. Influences of the water flow-rate on system response and memory effects were investigated. The linear range of the method depends on the flow-rate of the water sample and did not exceed two orders of magnitude. The detection limits for trichloroethene, chlorobenzene and the BTEX compounds were found to be between 0.1 and 1.0 microg/l using a water flow-rate of 30 ml/min. Dynamic membrane extraction combined with the mobile gas chromatographic device was used for the on-site analysis of contaminated waters in the area of Leipzig.

Membrane Extraction of Volatile Organic Compounds in Combination with Mobile Gas Chromatographic Analysis

Abstract The field of application of a mobile gas chromatographic device (Airmobtx monitor HC 1000 manufactured by Airmotec GmbH) originally conceived for the analysis of BTEX in air was extended to water analysis by using it in conjunction with membrane extraction. Volatile organic compounds diffuse out of water through a hollow fibre or flat membrane, are enriched onto sorption tubes integrated in the device, and then thermally desorbed and analysed by the gas chromatograph/flame ionisation detector. The suitability of various flat membranes and hollow fibres was investigated. Maximum extraction efficiency was obtained with a silicone hollow fibre measuring 0.3 m long, and with an inner diameter of 0.7 mm and a wall thickness of 100 μm. The extraction parameters were optimised. The linear dynamic range of the optimised method spans two orders of magnitude and the detection limits were found to be 0.1 μg/L for all BTEX compounds. By way of environmental applications, highly contaminated groundwater sampl...

Membrane Extraction Combined with Thermodesorption/Gas Chromatography and Mass Selective Detection for the Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Water

The range of application of a commercial thermodesorption-cryofocussing unit connected to a gas chromatograph/mass selective detector was extended to water analysis by using it in conjunction with membrane extraction. A flow of nitrogen passes through a silicone hollow fiber immersed in the water sample and extracted volatile organic compounds are enriched in a sorption tube mounted on top of the extraction cell. The sorption tube is then placed in the thermodesorption unit and analyzed by GC/MS. The optimal extraction parameters of this combined method were found to be 30 min extraction at 20°C with a stirring speed of 1,250 rpm and a flow rate of 100 mL/min nitrogen using a silicone hollow fiber of 0.3 m length. Under these conditions the reproducibility of the method was 5.2–10.5% RSD. The linear dynamic range of the optimized method spans three orders of magnitude and detection limits were found to be 0.02–0.1 μg/L for cis/trans-1,2-dichloroethene, benzene, trichloroethene, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, ethylbenzene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, and 1,2/1,4-dichlorobenzene. The method was found to be suitable for compounds with boiling points up to 220°C as memory effects increased considerably from dichloro- to hexachlorobenzene. Highly contaminated groundwater samples were analyzed. Quantitative results corresponded well with those achieved with conventional headspace-GC/FID.