DETERMINATION OF FATTY-ACIDS (C-8-C-22) IN URBAN WASTE-WATER BY GC-MS

A simple method for determination of fatty acids (C-8-C-22) in wastewa ter, extracted with dichloromethane. was developed. The extraction tim e was drastically reduced using ultrasound. Fatty acids were esterifie d using BF3 methanolic solution followed by an 11 min run using gas ch romatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM ). A clean-up is not necessary using SIM Mode. Tridecanoic acid was us ed as a surrogate internal standard. Detection limits go from 0.008 to 0.016 mg l(-1). The applicable concentration range was 0.010 to 10 mg l(-1). The method was validated by using the Standard Addition Method ology and it was applied satisfactorily to wastewater From Granada (Sp ain). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.