Determination of total fatty acids (C-8-C-22) in sludges by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

A simple method for determination of total fatty acids (C-8-C-22) in sludge s down to detection limits as low as 3-5 mu g/g is reported. They are extra cted with dichloromethane and esterified using BF3 methanolic solution foll owed by an 11 min run using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selec ted ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM). Tridecanoic acid was used as a surrogate st andard. The applicable concentration range was 8 to 3000 mu g/g. The method was validated by standard addition methodology. The method was applied sat isfactorily to the determination of these compounds in sludges from a waste water treatment plant in Granada (Spain). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.