Takahisa Hanya

Organic constituents in atmospheric fallout in the Tokyo area

Abstract The non-volatile organic constituents of eight atmospheric fallout (wet plus dry fallout) samples from the Tokyo area were determined. Considerable amounts of total organic carbon were found, ranging from 3.1 to 25 mgCm −2 day −1 . n -Alkanes were found in the ranges of carbon chain length from C 12 to C 40 in total amounts between 4.4 and 55 μg m −2 day −1 , in addition to an even larger amount of unresolved complex mixed hydrocarbons. Fatty acids were detected between carbon chain lengths of C 8 and C 34 , including unsaturated and branched acids. The total content of fatty acids ranged from 26 to 190 μg m −2 day −1 . Furthermore, o -, m - and p -hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and p -coumaric acids were identified and the presence of syringic, ferulic and protocatechuic acids and bisphenol A were indicated. The amounts of phenolic acids and bisphenol A were each less than 4.7 /gmg m −2 day −1 . These organic constituents may influence the composition of organic matter in urban aquatic environments. The major sources of hydrocarbons are considered to be higher plants, and combustion products of fossil fuels. The fatty acids and phenolic acids may be derived from higher plants as well as domestic and industrial sources. Pollens may be a source of plant organic matter. However, loss of more volatile compounds might have occurred during evaporation before analysis.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of phenols and aromatic acids in river waters

Abstract The ethyl acetate extracts of water samples from two urban rivers in Tokyo were analyzed for phenols and aromatic acids by using a combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer after separating by solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography. The following phenols and aromatic acids were identified: pentachlorophenol, bisphenol A, phthalic acid, trimesic acid, p -hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p -coumaric acid, and ferulic acid. The presence of o - and m -hydroxybenzoic acids were suggested by mass fragmentography. The sources of those compounds are considered.

Gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of alkylbenzenesulphonates in river water

Abstract Trace analysis of alkylbenzenesulphonates in river water has been investigated by combined gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Methylene blue-alkylbenzenesulphonate complexes are first formed and then extracted with chloroform. The methylene blue is removed and the alkylbenzenesulphonates are converted to methyl sulphonate derivatives by treatment with phosphorus pentachloride and then with methanol. The individual components of the alkylbenzenesulphonate are determined separately by mass fragmentography. The reproducibility of the determination is satisfactory.

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates in river, estuary and bay water

Abstract Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in aquatic environments were determined by combined gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The ratios of the concentrations of LAS to those of methylene blue active substances in river and bay water were estimated to 0.40–0.85 and less than 0.20, respectively. The percent composition of LAS varied among commercial detergent, river, estuary and bay water. The cause of the variation in the LAS composition among the aquatic environments is discussed.

Some precursors of humic acid in Recent lake sediment suggested by infra-red spectra

Abstract Humic substances in lake sediment can be both autochthonous, derived from the biota of the lake itself, and allochthonous, derived from the biota and soil of the drainage area. The i.r. spectrum of humic acid from the upper 15 cm of sediment in the center of Lake Haruna in central Japan differs significantly from the spectra of humic acid from soil near the lake, but closely resembles the spectra of some dried lacustrine organisms. Thus, the probable precursors of the humic acid are the organisms in the lake, and the humic substances in the sediment are mainly autochthonous. This conclusion is supported by the fact that no streams flow into the lake that might contribute allochthonous substances to the sediment.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of phenolic acids in recent sediments

Saponification extraction of sediment samples was performed for the analysis of phenolic acids. After separation of phenolic acids by silica gel column chromatography, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric (cis and trans), ferulic (cis and trans) and protocatechuic acids were identified, and the presence of o- and m-hydroxybenzoic acids was indicated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in lake, river and sea sediments. The content of each phenolic acid was less than 110 μg per gram of dry sample. These phenolic acids are mainly derived from vascular plants and their detritus.

Comparative study on organic constituents in polluted and unpolluted inland aquatic environments-I features of hydrocarbons for polluted and unpolluted waters

Abstract The constituents of hydrocarbons between highly polluted river waters collected from the Tokyo area and unpolluted river, brook, reservoir and pond waters obtained from the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands were compared to characterize their features for polluted and unpolluted waters. n-Alkanes between the carbon chain length of C12 and C36, squalane and unresolved complex mixture of hydrocarbons (UCMH) were found in most of the river waters of the Tokyo area at the contents ranging from 0.026 to 14 μg 1−1, from 0.004 to 1.7 μg 1−1 and from less than 5 to 290 μg 1−1, respectively, whereas in the waters of the Ogasawara Islands, only n-alkanes ranging from C13 to C37 were found with the great predominance of odd-carbon numbers at the contents varying from 0.042 to 4.0 μg 1−1. It was indicated that the presence of squalane, UCMH and even-carbon numbered n-alkanes as the major constituents are intimately correlated with artificial hydrocarbon sources (fossil fuels and their products and both combustion products, and industrial products), while the great predominance of odd-carbon numbered n-alkanes for the unpolluted areas are mainly due to algae and higher plants. Besides, the major portion of n-alkanes, squalane and UCMH are thought to be present in polluted and unpolluted waters associated with particulate materials.

Chemical composition of labile fractions in DOM

Dissolved organic matter in natural water was classified into a labile and a refractory fraction according to the decomposition properties for microorganisms. In decomposition experiments of dissolved organic matter from an eutrophic small lake in Japan, dissolved amino acids and dissolved carbohydrates fractions could be confirmed to be the labile fractions of dissolved organic matter.

Presence of squalane in urban aquatic environments

Ethyl acetate extracts of river waters and sediments, night-soil and sewage treatment plant effluents and sludges from the Tokyo area were analysed for squalane using combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after separation by silica gel column chromatography. Squalane was identified in all the samples studied and the concentration in river waters and sediments ranged from 0.46 to 1.7 micrograms/l and from 0.86 to 15 micrograms per g dry sediment, respectively. Squalane is presumably derived from artificial materials rather than from natural sources, with the exception of fossil fuel products.

Vertical distribution of monosaccharides in lake water

AbstractsThe concentrations of carbohydrates measured by gas chromatography in lakes of three different trophic levels have a tendancy to be lower than those measured by spectrophotometry. The concentrations of glucose and galactose were high in the euphotic zone of eutrophic lakes and the rhamnose was relatively high in the profundal zone. The ratio of the concentrations of each monosaccharide was relatively uniform from surface to bottom in a dystrophic lake. Glucose and galactose freshly produced in the euphotic zone might well be easily decomposed.