CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF ALIPHATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) IN A SEWAGE-SLUDGE

A simple chromatographic method, proposed by Aceves et al. (1988), for the determination of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydrocar bons (PAHs) was used. The results from a study of the presence and tem poral variability of the aliphatic hydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydro carbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge are shown in this work. The sewage slu dges originated from the Arazuri waste water treatment plant site in P amplona (Spain). The organic pollutants have been extracted from the s ewage sludge by a Soxhlet apparatus. Aliphatic hydrocarbons and PAHs a re separated from the rest of the pollutants on a chromatographic colu mn. Flame ionization (FID) and mass spectroscopy (MS) detectors have b een used. The results showed that aliphatic hydrocarbons concentration varied between 230 and 1420 mg kg(-1) dry matter (DM). The PAHs appea red in smaller quantitie of between 128 and 482 mg kg(-1) (DM). The fa ctor analysis of the results allowed us to verify the different origin of the aliphatic hydrocarbons and the PAHs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.