Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water
Harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in drinking water due to anthropogenic activities, such as oil refining (e.g., benzene) and disinfection (e.g., the so-called trihalomethanes, THMs). Gas chromatography (GC)-based techniques are widely applied for analysis of these compounds in t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Environments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/10/124 |
| _version_ | 1797473387926257664 |
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| author | Mark J. Perkins Vaughan S. Langford |
| author_facet | Mark J. Perkins Vaughan S. Langford |
| author_sort | Mark J. Perkins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in drinking water due to anthropogenic activities, such as oil refining (e.g., benzene) and disinfection (e.g., the so-called trihalomethanes, THMs). Gas chromatography (GC)-based techniques are widely applied for analysis of these compounds in the laboratory but have some throughput drawbacks due to sample preparation and the extended analysis time (due to chromatographic separation). Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is a direct-injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) technique that has potential to reduce sample preparation and analysis times through direct analysis of aqueous headspace with no preconcentration, drying, or other water management. This study applies headspace-SIFT-MS to the analysis of benzene, related petroleum aromatics, and THMs to evaluate the potential for enhanced sample throughput for drinking water analysis (10 samples per hour). Headspace-SIFT-MS achieved a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.1 to 0.2 μg L<sup>−1</sup> for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), and 1 to 2 μg L<sup>−1</sup> for the THMs. These LOQs achieve the current European Union and United States regulatory limits but are higher than modern GC methods. Therefore, the potential application of SIFT-MS is envisaged to lie in rapid screening in the laboratory, or field-based real-time monitoring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:14:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3852525200d49c4aca440f28ab7c28b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:14:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3852525200d49c4aca440f28ab7c28b2023-11-24T00:05:05ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982022-09-0191012410.3390/environments9100124Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking WaterMark J. Perkins0Vaughan S. Langford1Element Materials Technology Laboratory Instrumentation, Wellbrook Court, Girton Rd., Girton, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UKSyft Technologies Limited, 68 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New ZealandHarmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in drinking water due to anthropogenic activities, such as oil refining (e.g., benzene) and disinfection (e.g., the so-called trihalomethanes, THMs). Gas chromatography (GC)-based techniques are widely applied for analysis of these compounds in the laboratory but have some throughput drawbacks due to sample preparation and the extended analysis time (due to chromatographic separation). Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is a direct-injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) technique that has potential to reduce sample preparation and analysis times through direct analysis of aqueous headspace with no preconcentration, drying, or other water management. This study applies headspace-SIFT-MS to the analysis of benzene, related petroleum aromatics, and THMs to evaluate the potential for enhanced sample throughput for drinking water analysis (10 samples per hour). Headspace-SIFT-MS achieved a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.1 to 0.2 μg L<sup>−1</sup> for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), and 1 to 2 μg L<sup>−1</sup> for the THMs. These LOQs achieve the current European Union and United States regulatory limits but are higher than modern GC methods. Therefore, the potential application of SIFT-MS is envisaged to lie in rapid screening in the laboratory, or field-based real-time monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/10/124SIFT-MSvolatile organic compound (VOC)BTEXTHMheadspaceinstrumental analysis |
| spellingShingle | Mark J. Perkins Vaughan S. Langford Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water Environments SIFT-MS volatile organic compound (VOC) BTEX THM headspace instrumental analysis |
| title | Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water |
| title_full | Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water |
| title_fullStr | Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water |
| title_short | Application of Headspace-SIFT-MS to Direct Analysis of Hazardous Volatiles in Drinking Water |
| title_sort | application of headspace sift ms to direct analysis of hazardous volatiles in drinking water |
| topic | SIFT-MS volatile organic compound (VOC) BTEX THM headspace instrumental analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/10/124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markjperkins applicationofheadspacesiftmstodirectanalysisofhazardousvolatilesindrinkingwater AT vaughanslangford applicationofheadspacesiftmstodirectanalysisofhazardousvolatilesindrinkingwater |