Simultaneous determination of tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin and poly-aromatic chlorinated biphenyls in aqueous environment using liquid phase microextraction

• Published in: Physics and chemistry of the earth. Parts A/B/C 2012, Vol.50-52, p.98-103
• Main Authors: Sikiti, Phumile, Msagati, Titus A.M., Mishra, Ajay K., Mamba, Bhekie B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chlorination; Congeners; Dioxins; Discharge; Extraction; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Liquid phase microextraction; Liquid phases; Pollutants; Poly-aromatic chlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated biphenyls
• ISSN: 1474-7065; 1873-5193
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2012.09.001

► Method for the determination of chlorinated endocrine disrupting pollutants in wastewater systems was reported. ► The developed method involved sample preparation by liquid phase membrane microextraction. ► The detection was by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. ► The method was able to detect very low amounts of pollutants. Among the most notable and notorious persistent organic pollutants in many aquatic environments are the dioxins and poly-aromatic chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These compounds are nuisances in the environment due to their toxicities which come mainly as a result of their tendencies to bio accumulate because of their lipophilic nature. Dioxins and PCBs belong to the group of compounds known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Since these compounds are problematic when they are discharged in the environment, strict regulations and guidelines with regard to their use and discharge has been put in place. Of the dioxin congeners, 2,3,7,8-TCDD (2,3,7,8-Cl4DD) is the most toxic while a number of PCB congeners such PCB-1, PCB-28 and PCB 101 are also known to cause pollution when present in the environment. In this work, the analytical monitoring strategies for dioxins and PCBs employing extraction and purification of samples using liquid phase microextraction as well as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the separation and detection of the extracts was employed. The extraction results were validated by various statistical tests such as linearity, accuracy, precision, reproducibility and repeatability data.