The application of gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (GC-MIP-AED) to screening analysis of organic pollutants in river water of the Nitra

Gas chromatography with microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detection (GC-MIP-AED) has been applied to screening analysis of pesticides and industrial organic pollutants in water samples of the Nitra river. The method provides complementary analytical information on the elemental composition of the analyses. The identity of compounds, for which an analysis by GC-MS in the scan-mode followed by a MS-library search gives only tentative results, can be elucidated by the presence of heteroatoms or can be confirmed by empirical formulas calculated on the basis of a compound independent calibration, which also allows an approximate quantitation with surrogate standards. The application of the GC-MIP-AED system to screening analysis of organic trace components has been made possible by optimizing the instrumental parameters in order to detect selected elements simultaneously with the highest possible sensitivity within a sequence series of samples under the same experimental conditions. New software macros facilitate and accelerate the data evaluation. Solid-phase extraction with LiChrolut cartridges has been found as an adequate alternative for preparation of aqueous samples, excelling by its high recovery rates especially for pesticides. Many of the occurring organic pollutants could be identified down to the ng/l level. The complementary analytical information obtained by GC-MIP-AED among other applied techniques led to the establishment of a list of organic priority compounds, which are of environmental relevance in the river water of the Nitra. (author)