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- Solid-phase extraction (3)
- Metal oxide particles (2)
- Microplastic (2)
- PA 66 (2)
- Chromium speciation (1)
- Complex environmental samples (1)
- Degradation (1)
- Evolved gas analysis (1)
- GC (1)
- Gas chromatography (1)
Small polymer particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm called microplastics find their way into the environment from polymer debris and industrial production. Therefore a method is needed to identify and quantify microplastics in various environmental samples to generate reliable concentration values. Such concentration values, i.e. quantitative results, are necessary for an assessment of microplastic in environmental media. This was achieved by thermal extraction in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), connected to a solid-phase adsorber. These adsorbers were subsequently analysed by thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TDS-GC-MS). In comparison to other chromatographic methods, like pyrolyse gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), the relatively high sample masses in TGA (about 200 times higher than used in Py-GC-MS) analysed here enable the measurement of complex matrices that are not homogenous on a small scale. Through the characteristic decomposition products known for every kind of polymer it is possible to identify and even to quantify polymer particles in various matrices. Polyethylene (PE), one of the most important representatives for microplastics, was chosen as an example for identification and quantification.
Using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with a solid-phase adsorber for thermal extraction, followed by subsequently analysing the adsorber with thermo-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TDS-GCMS) enables measurement of polymer degradation under oxidizing atmosphere, and the identification of certain complex hydrocarbon degradation products by chromatographic separation and defined mass patterns. This technique, thermal-extraction desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GCMS) was used to investigate the thermo-oxidative degradation of PA 66 and PA 66 doped with 2 wt% of metal oxide particles. In TGA pure PA 66 formed more residue under an oxidizing atmosphere than an inert one. In contrast to the measurements under inert atmosphere, several condensed aromatic species containing nitrogen could be identified in thermo-oxidative measurements. These degradation products were formed through condensation reactions of primary amides originating from imide hydrolysis. The formation of such highly condensed species also causes higher char formation. Four metal oxides have shown an impact on the thermo-oxidative degradation of PA 66: Fe2O3 on η-Al2O3 < pure Fe2O3 = Fe2O3 on γ-Al2O3 < pure ZnO. For ZnO even a char-stabilizing effect could be observed. A catalytic effect of these metal oxides causes more condensed cyclopentanone and pyridine derivates. Thus, more water is formed and released, resulting in increased hydrolysis of the imides and degradation at lower temperatures.
n order to determine the relevance of microplastic particles in various environmental media, comprehensive investigations are needed. However, no analytical method exists for fast identification and quantification. At present, optical spectroscopy methods like IR and RAMAN imaging are used. Due to their time consuming procedures and uncertain extrapolation, reliable monitoring is difficult. For analyzing polymers Py-GC-MS is a standard method. However, due to a limited sample amount of about 0.5 mg it is not suited for analysis of complex sample mixtures like environmental samples. Therefore, we developed a new thermoanalytical method as a first step for identifying microplastics in environmental samples. A sample amount of about 20 mg, which assures the homogeneity of the sample, is subjected to complete thermal decomposition. The specific degradation products of the respective polymer are adsorbed on a solid-phase adsorber and subsequently analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry. For certain identification, the specific degradation products for the respective polymer were selected first. Afterwards real environmental samples from the aquatic (three different rivers) and the terrestrial (bio gas plant) systems were screened for microplastics. Mainly polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were identified for the samples from the bio gas plant and PE and PS from the rivers. However, this was only the first step and quantification measurements will follow.
In order to determine the relevance of microplastic particles in various environmental media, comprehensive investigations are needed. However, no analytical method exists for fast identification and quantification. At present, optical spectroscopy methods like IR and RAMAN imaging are used. Due to their time consuming procedures and uncertain extrapolation, reliable monitoring is difficult. For analyzing polymers Py-GC-MS is a standard method. However, due to a limited sample amount of about 0.5 mg it is not suited for analysis of complex sample mixtures like environmental samples. Therefore, we developed a new thermoanalytical method as a first step for identifying microplastics in environmental samples. A sample amount of about 20 mg, which assures the homogeneity of the sample, is subjected to complete thermal decomposition. The specific degradation products of the respective polymer are adsorbed on a solid-Phase adsorber and subsequently analyzed by thermal Desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry. For certain identification, the specific degradation products for the respective polymer were selected first. Afterwards real environmental samples from the aquatic (three different rivers) and the terrestrial (bio gas plant) systems were screened for microplastics. Mainly polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were identified for the samples from the bio gas plant and PE and PS from the rivers. However, this was only the first step and quantification measurements will follow.
Determination of chromium (VI) in primary and secondary fertilizer and their respective precursors
(2017)
Hexavalent chromium species (Cr(VI)) are often carcinogenic, of high acute toxicity, highly mobile, and thus pose a severe risk to health and environment. Fertilizers usually contain significant amounts of chromium. Therefore, a reliable analysis of chromium and the fraction of Cr(VI) are crucial for safe use of fertilizers. This problem is expected to increase in the future, since more and more recycled fertilizers emerge due to increasing fertilizer demand and respective supply risks. However, existing analytical methods have been developed for conventional fertilizers and have to be tested whether they are suitable for the new materials. Thus, we performed a wet-chemical extraction for Cr(VI) on several matrices as well as respective quality control experiments including spiking with Cr(III) and Cr(VI)compounds. We found the Cr(VI) amounts to be below 2 mg/kg except for a thermally post-treated sewage sludge ash (SSA) that showed 12.3 mg/kg. The presence of organic matter e.g. in sludge or precipitated struvite caused a reduction of spiked Cr(VI) and thus no satisfying recovery for Quality control. Cr(VI) reduction was also observed for SSA, presumably due to the presence of Fe(II) compounds.
Even though the tested procedure can be hampered in some recycled fertilizer matrices, it might be adapted to be applicable also for these complex samples.
For analysis of the gaseous thermal decomposition products of polymers, the common techniques are thermogravimetry, combined with Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (TGA–FTIR) and mass spectrometry (TGA–MS). These methods offer a simple approach to the decomposition mechanism, especially for small decomposition molecules. Complex spectra of gaseous mixtures are very often hard to identify because of overlapping signals. In this paper a new method is described to adsorb the decomposition products during controlled conditions in TGA on solid-phase extraction (SPE) material: twisters. Subsequently the twisters were analysed with thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TDS–GC–MS), which allows the decomposition products to be separated and identified using an MS library. The thermoplastics polyamide 66 (PA 66) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) were used as example polymers. The influence of the sample mass and of the purge gas flow during the decomposition process was investigated in TGA. The advantages and limitations of the method were presented in comparison to the common analysis techniques, TGA–FTIR and TGA–MS.
The thermal molecular degradation of polyamide 66 (PA 66) doped with (partially supported) metal oxide particles (Fe2O3, ZnO, Al2O3) was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively using common analysis techniques like thermogravimetry coupled with IR-spectroscopic evolved gas analysis (TGA-FTIR). Using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), qualitative conclusions were drawn about the complex hydrocarbon products. However, the combination of TGA with solid-phase extraction, followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS), allows qualitative and even semi-quantitative conclusions about the decomposition pathway of PA 66 in the presence of various metal oxide particles.
The investigations under inert conditions showed that the presence of metal particles increases the rate of decarboxylation and deamination reactions, as well as the formation rate of cyclopentanone and pyridine derivatives. These species are a consequence of various condensation reactions. The condensation reactions release a large amount of water, thus triggering the hydrolysis of PA 66. Molecular thermal degradation mechanisms were developed for the main decomposition as well as for the condensation reactions and supported by quantum chemical calculations. The catalytic effect of the metal oxides in PA 66 increases in the following order: PA 66 = PA 66 – Al2O3 < PA 66 – Fe2O3 < PA 66 – ZnO.
Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and solid phase microextraction (SPME) are well-established sample preparation methods for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous samples. However, complex matrices especially characterized by slurry particles and dissolved organic matter (DOM) can hamper the extraction of PAH with both SBSE and SPME and lead to different results. Thus, we produced aqueous eluates from PAH-contaminated soils differing in particle size distribution and organic matter content and determined the PAH concentration in the eluates with both SBSE and SPME. Furthermore, we tested the influence of filtration on the PAH analysis. The excess finding of PAH with SBSE compared to SPME ranged from −16.6 to 24.5 %. The differences increased after filtration. We found a strong positive correlation of the excess finding to the total organic carbon content (TOC) and a negative one to the pH value. The results indicate that SBSE is less affected by complex matrices than SPME.