The Application of Solid Phase Microextraction to Non-routine Environmental Testing
Oral Presentation
Prepared by K. Stenerson, H. Michael
Sigma-Aldrich/Supelco, 595 Harrison Road, Bellefonte, PA, 16823, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 814-359-5781
ABSTRACT
Incidents involving release of chemicals into the environment often require rapid response, which includes testing to determine the extent of the contamination. Sometimes there are no established environmental test methods for the chemicals involved. For example, the recent chemical spill which took place in the Elk River in West Virginia involved two chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenyl ether (PPH) which are not included on compound lists of any US EPA test methods. One approach in testing for odd compounds such as these is to use pieces of conventional methods such as purge & trap, soxhlet and liquid/liquid extraction techniques. An alternative approach to consider is solid phase microextraction (SPME), a sampling technique which was commercialized in the early 1990's. It has found utility in the testing of a wide variety of compounds from many different types of sample matrices. SPME is a fast, easy, and highly sensitive technique which uses no solvent, making it "greener" than conventional methods. It can be used for field sampling in some cases, and when combined with GC-MS analysis, for non-routine testing such as environmental forensic investigations, or screening related to chemical releases. We will present data showing the application of SPME to non-routine environmental testing. Its utility to the extraction of MCHM and PPH from water will be presented as well as other applications.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by K. Stenerson, H. Michael
Sigma-Aldrich/Supelco, 595 Harrison Road, Bellefonte, PA, 16823, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 814-359-5781
ABSTRACT
Incidents involving release of chemicals into the environment often require rapid response, which includes testing to determine the extent of the contamination. Sometimes there are no established environmental test methods for the chemicals involved. For example, the recent chemical spill which took place in the Elk River in West Virginia involved two chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenyl ether (PPH) which are not included on compound lists of any US EPA test methods. One approach in testing for odd compounds such as these is to use pieces of conventional methods such as purge & trap, soxhlet and liquid/liquid extraction techniques. An alternative approach to consider is solid phase microextraction (SPME), a sampling technique which was commercialized in the early 1990's. It has found utility in the testing of a wide variety of compounds from many different types of sample matrices. SPME is a fast, easy, and highly sensitive technique which uses no solvent, making it "greener" than conventional methods. It can be used for field sampling in some cases, and when combined with GC-MS analysis, for non-routine testing such as environmental forensic investigations, or screening related to chemical releases. We will present data showing the application of SPME to non-routine environmental testing. Its utility to the extraction of MCHM and PPH from water will be presented as well as other applications.
