POLLUTANTS IN DRINKING-WATER AND WASTE-WATER

Extracts of drinking water and effluents from municipal and industrial sewage treatment plants were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spec trometry and by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with u ltraviolet and/or mass spectrometric detection. After column chromatog raphy or flow-injection analysis bypassing the analytical column, ioni zation was performed by a thermospray interface. Identification of the pollutants was carried out by tandem mass spectrometry, generating da ughter-ion spectra by collision-induced dissociation. Most pollutants in drinking water and in the effluents of waste water treatment plants are surface-active compounds of anthropogenic origin or their biochem ical degradation products. Difficulties encountered during separation, detection and identification are presented and discussed and techniqu es for solving these problems are proposed.