Detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons using headspace-mass spectrometry and identification of compounds by headspace-fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
The direct coupling of a headspace sampler with a mass spectrometer is proposed as a screening tool for the rapid detection of soil pollution by hydrocarbons from petroleum and derivatives. The samples are subjected to the headspace generation process, with no prior treatment, and the volatiles generated are introduced directly into the mass spectrometer, thereby obtaining a fingerprint of the sample analysed. Suitable treatment of the signal by chemometric techniques allows unequivocal characterisation of the different types of sample. The use of fast gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector coupled to the headspace sampler allows identification of the major hydrocarbons present in the mineral and organic polluted samples, interpretation of the results obtained, and demonstrates the analytical potential of headspace-mass spectrometry coupling.
Departamento de Química Analítica, Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain. jlpp@usal.es
José Luis
JL
Pérez Pavón
Armando
A
Guerrero Peña
Carmelo
C
García Pinto
Bernardo
B
Moreno Cordero
D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants