Broad Spectrum Analysis of Ionic and Non-Ionic Organic Contaminants in Urban Wastewaters and Coastal Receiving Aquatic Systems

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Abstract
A comprehensive analytical protocol for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of ionic and non-ionic organic contaminants in urban wastewaters, coastal seawater, and sediments is outlined. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and adsorption onto polymers (polyurethane foam) or macroreticular resins (Amberlite, XAD-2) for the extraction of a wide variety of dissolved contaminants are evaluated. Organic extracts are resolved into fractions of increasing polarity by a combination of silica-alumina adsorption and gel permeation chromatography. HRGC-MS analysis of these fractions, using different ionization techniques, namely electron impact (EI), positive (PICI) and negative ion chemical (NICI) ionization, and the direct use of FAB-MS on the original extracts enabled the identification of a broad spectrum of anthropogenic compounds (290) in the different aquatic compartments. The decoupling of these contaminants between the water-dissolved and particulate phases is discussed.