A cheap and simple passive sampler using silicone rubber for the analysis of surface water by gas chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry

摘要

Water pollution events may arise rapidly, requiring a methodology that is easy to implement, fast to deploy, andsufficiently sensitive to detect the trace presence of hazardous contaminants. A cheap and easy to use silicone rubber(polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) miniature passive sampler is described. In order to test the methodology, pollutantswere concentrated, in situ, from surface water in and around Pretoria, South Africa. The versatile sampler allowed forconventional and enhanced sensitivity, solvent-free analysis by comprehensive gas chromatography – time of flight massspectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS) and high resolution TOFMS (GC-HRT). Contaminants detected in surface water includecaffeine, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.