Matrix effect on the performance of headspace solid phase microextraction method for the analysis of target volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental samples

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is a fast, cheap and solvent free methodology widely used for environmental analysis. A SPME methodology has been optimized for the analysis of VOCs in a range of matrices covering different soils of varying textures, organic matrices from manures and composts from different origins, and biochars. The performance of the technique was compared for the different matrices spiked with a multicomponent VOC mixture, selected to cover different VOC groups of environmental relevance (ketone, terpene, alcohol, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkylbenzenes). VOC recovery was dependent on the nature itself of the VOC and the matrix characteristics. The SPME analysis of non-polar compounds, such as alkylbenzenes, terpenes and aliphatic hydrocarbons, was markedly affected by the type of matrix as a consequence of the competition for the adsorption sites in the SPME fiber. These non-polar compounds were strongly retained in the biochar surfaces limiting the use of SPME for this type of matrices. However, this adsorption capacity was not evident when biochar had undergone a weathering/aging process through composting. Polar compounds (alcohol and ketone) showed a similar behavior in all matrices, as a consequence of the hydrophilic characteristics, affected by water content in the matrix. SPME showed a good performance for soils and organic matrices especially for non-polar compounds, achieving a limit of detection (LD) and limit of quantification (LQ) of 0.02 and 0.03 ng g⁻¹ for non-polar compounds and poor extraction for more hydrophilic and polar compounds (LD and LQ higher 310 and 490 ng g⁻¹). The characteristics of the matrix, especially pH and organic matter, had a marked impact on SPME, due to the competition of the analytes for active sites in the fiber, but VOC biodegradation should not be discarded in matrices with active microbial biomass.     

Effect of selected organic and inorganic snow and cloud components on the photochemical generation of nitrite by nitrate irradiation

The effect of selected organic and inorganic compounds, present in snow and cloudwater was studied. Photolysis of solutions of nitrate to nitrite was carried out in the laboratory using a UVB light source. The photolysis and other reactions were then modelled. It is shown that formate, formaldehyde, methanesulphonate, and chloride to a lesser extent, can increase the initial formation rate of nitrite. The effect, particularly significant for formate and formaldehyde, is unlikely to be caused by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The experimental data obtained in this work suggest that possible causes are the reduction of nitrogen dioxide and nitrate by radical species formed on photooxidation of the organic compounds. Hydroxyl scavenging by organic and inorganic compounds would not affect the initial formation rate of nitrite, but would protect it from oxidation, therefore, increasing the concentration values reached at long irradiation times. The described processes can be relevant to cloudwater and the quasi-liquid layer on the surface of ice and snow, considering that in the polar regions irradiated snow layers are important sources of nitrous acid to the atmosphere. Formate and (at a lesser extent) formaldehyde are the compounds that play the major role in the described processes of nitrite/nitrous acid photoformation by initial rate enhancement and hydroxyl scavenging.     

Competition between phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl for high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment

We determined the maximum amounts of added phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl sorbed onto high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment on bi-solute experiments. The bi-solute pairs were phenanthrene/chrysene and phenanthrene/2,5-dichlorobiphenyl. On the bi-solute sorption experiments, one solute was introduced and equilibrated with sediment prior to addition of the second solute. The values for the maximum amounts adsorbed onto high-energy sites revealed that, after equilibration of the first solute, still some high-energy sites could be occupied by the second solute. Phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl seem to share about 30% of the accessible high-energy adsorption sites in the sediment employed.     

Long-term variation of PM2.5 levels and composition at rural, urban, and roadside sites in Hong Kong: Increasing impact of regional air pollution

Long-term study of air pollution plays a decisive role in formulating and refining pollution control strategies. In this study, two 12-month measurements of PM_2.5 mass and speciation were conducted in 00/01 and 04/05 to determine long-term trend and spatial variations of PM_2.5 mass and chemical composition in Hong Kong. This study covered three sites with different land-use characteristics, namely roadside, urban, and rural environments. The highest annual average PM_2.5 concentration was observed at the roadside site (58.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ (average±2σ) in 00/01 and 53.0±2.7 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), followed by the urban site (33.9±2.5 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 39.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), and the rural site (23.7±1.9 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 28.4±2.4 μg m⁻³ in 04/05). The lowest PM_2.5 level measured at the rural site was still higher than the United States’ annual average National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 15 μg m⁻³. As expected, seasonal variations of PM_2.5 mass concentration at the three sites were similar: higher in autumn/winter and lower in summer. Comparing PM_2.5 data in 04/05 with those collected in 00/01, a reduction in PM_2.5 mass concentration at the roadside (8.7%) but an increase at the urban (15%) and rural (20%) sites were observed. The reduction of PM_2.5 at the roadside was attributed to the decrease of carbonaceous aerosols (organic carbon and elemental carbon) (>30%), indicating the effective control of motor vehicle emissions over the period. On the other hand, the sulfate concentration at the three sites was consistent regardless of different land-use characteristics in both studies. The lack of spatial variation of sulfate concentrations in PM_2.5 implied its origin of regional contribution. Moreover, over 36% growth in sulfate concentration was found from 00/01 to 04/05, suggesting a significant increase in regional sulfate pollution over the years. More quantitative techniques such as receptor models and chemical transport models are required to assess the temporal variations of source contributions to ambient PM_2.5 mass and chemical speciation in Hong Kong.     

有机固体废弃物的热解处理研究

通过对锯末、稻壳、纸屑、橱芥、塑料和橡胶6种具有代表性的有机固体废弃物原料的热解实验,测量了它们三相产物收率,并分析了它们固体、液体和气体三相产物的组成.特别对液体产物,针对它们的特殊性分别采用了层析、模拟蒸馏和全烃气相色谱分析,详细探讨了热解焦油的具体组分,得到了热解法处理有机固体废弃物的一些有意义的数据.     

城市污泥微波干化及污染物析出特性研究

采用直接热干化和微波两种方法对3种城市污泥进行了研究,分别考察了温度、污泥厚度、微波功率对干化过程的影响,并研究了干化气体的二次污染问题。研究表明,直接热干化耗时长,温度和污泥厚度是影响干化过程的主要因素;微波干化耗时短,效率高;厚度为4 mm的污泥在微波功率为1 200 W时,仅需3min含水率降至10%以下。微波干化气体的冷凝液COD,NH_4~+-N指标明显低于直接热干化。     

土壤及地下水有机污染的化学与生物修复

现阶段,工业的生产任务越来越繁重,因此在其进行生产的时候,制造的污染物也会越来越多。在这个对于环保极度关注的时代,本文对于被污染的土壤还有地下水实施修复展开讨论。     

成都平原毗河下游生态环境需水量研究

20世纪90年代以来,河流生态环境需水成为生态水文学研究的重要内容。阐述了基于国际上新兴发展的生态水文学理论的生态环境需水量的概念和内涵。并以毗河为例,用能反映时间尺度的河流流量来表达生态环境需水量,而不是传统意义上的水量。为了与水资源配置的时间单元协调起来,对3个代表年〖WTBX〗P〖WTBZ〗=50%（1968年）,〖WTBX〗P〖WTBZ〗=75%（1986年）,〖WTBX〗P〖WTBZ〗=90%（1987年）分别进行生态环境需水量的计算。根据毗河的自然条件,利用Montana法计算了河道维护水生生境最小需水量和最适宜需水量;蒸发需水量由水面宽度、河道两断面间平均长度、河道蒸发深度三者确定;结合河道功能区划和水质目标,计算了污染物稀释需水量。最终确定毗河下游河道的最小生态环境需水量为20.64 m3/s,最适宜生态环境需水量为25.84 m3/s。     

经济发达县域耕地土壤重金属污染评价及其影响因素分析——以江苏省昆山市为例

通过对昆山市14个区镇91个土壤样品中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Ni、Hg、Zn 8种重金属测定分析,对该市耕地土壤重金属污染进行评价并进行重金属污染的影响因素分析.结果表明,昆山市耕地土壤存在不同程度的轻微污染,重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Hg、Zn均超过国家土壤背景值,旱地、水田中均以Hg污染范围较广、变异系数较大.综合污染指数表现为水田(1.15)＞旱地(1.00).区镇耕地重金属污染评价表明千灯、陆扬、石浦、锦溪、石牌处于警戒值之内,蓬朗、周庄、张浦、正仪、周市、巴城、淀山湖、花桥、陆家轻度污染;昆山市耕地土壤中重金属元素均未超过土壤环境基本容量,能够保证作物品质和农业持续发展.同时,研究表明区域重金属轻微污染具有复合污染的特性,Cd、Pb相关性最高(P=0.621 0), Pb与Hg、Cu、Zn、Cu与Cr也有相关性(0.438 7、0.426 0、0.350 9、0.394 0),区域重金属的轻微污染受人为因素影响显著,研究指出应加强对区域优先控制污染物Hg、次优先控制污染物Pb、Cd、Zn、Cu、Cr的控制与治理.     

饮用水中有机污染物的监测和评价方法

水质中毒性有机物是致癌的主要因素之一，饮用水的质量已引起人们高度重视，近代微量富集技术和色谱技术取得了举世瞩目的进展，卓有成效地分离，鉴定饮用水中痕量、复杂、多组分有机化合物，流行病学调查和污染毒理学研究的发展，建立了有机污染物危害人体健康和生态环境的定量关系，为采用多污染物评价方法评价水质奠定的基础。