Ml. Bao et al., DETERMINATION OF TRACE LEVELS OF TASTE AND ODOR COMPOUNDS IN WATER BYMICROEXTRACTION AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY ION-TRAP DETECTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY, Water research, 31(7), 1997, pp. 1719-1727
A simple, easy-to-perform and sensitive method for routine analysis of
trace taste- and odor-causing organic compounds in natural water is p
resented. The compounds investigated included geosmin, 2-methylisoborn
eol (MIB), C6C10 linear aldehydes, benzaldehyde, beta-cyclocitral, cit
ronella, citral, 2,4-decadienal, 2-methyl-3-heptanone, 5-methyl-3-hept
anone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, geranylacetone, beta-ionone, camphene,
hexadecane and heptadecane. One liter water samples, salted with 100
g of sodium chloride, were extracted by microextraction using 2 x 3 mi
of hexane. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatographic-ion-trap
detection-mass spectrometry (GC-ITD-MS). Mean recoveries from spiked
reagent water were 99 +/- 7 and 95 +/- 8% for MIB and geosmin (spiked
with 5-40 ng/l), respectively. For other compounds, recoveries ranged
between 81 and 110%, with the exception of hexanal, heptanal and benza
ldehyde. The method detection limits were as low as 1 ng/l for geosmin
and MIB, 0.5-6 ng/l for ketones and 5-25 ng/l for other compounds. Re
coveries end precision for most of the compounds investigated from spi
ked river water were similar to those obtained in reagent water. This
method was employed for monitoring the occurrence of taste and odor co
mpounds in the Arno River. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.