In-bottle TF-SPME coupled to flow modulated GCxGC-TOF MS for monitoring of organic pollutants in environmental waters
30 October 2024
Green Analytical Chemistry
Organic pollutants in water pose risks to ecosystems and
human health, making effective monitoring of these diverse contaminants a
significant challenge. A recent study in Green Analytical Chemistry
presents a new method that combines in-bottle thin film solid phase
microextraction (TF-SPME) with comprehensive two-dimensional gas
chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC–TOF MS) for tracking
these pollutants. This approach offers a more sustainable and sensitive
alternative for non-targeted screening of environmental water samples.
Enhanced screening of diverse pollutants
The study used
TF-SPME and GCxGC–TOF MS to analyse various water samples, including raw
wastewater, treated effluent, and river water. TF-SPME allows for efficient,
eco-friendly extraction that can be used in remote locations, while GCxGC–TOFMS enabled non-targeted screening of the whole sample, helping to monitor and
tentatively identify a wider range of concerning compounds.This combination
produced detailed pollutant profiles essential for environmental assessments.
The research found notable differences in pollutant levels
before and after treatment, with raw wastewater showing higher concentrations
of halogenated compounds.
The 'greenness' of the TF-SPME method was also
assessed and compared to the conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE)
approach in the US EPA 8270 protocol. The findings indicate that TF-SPME is a
promising green alternative due to its energy-efficient operation and potential
for semi-automation.
These findings highlight the method's potential for broad
environmental monitoring, with future research aiming to expand its use in
quantifying pollutants across diverse water sources.