Faecal sterols determination in wastewater and surface water.
A simplified method to detect faecal sterols, as an alternative assessment of environmental faecal pollution is proposed. The aim of this study is the development of a method to determine sterols in water samples avoiding sample filtration through glass fibre filter. The method is based on a liquid-liquid extraction and a final GC-FID determination. The quantified sterols are coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol, while 5alpha-cholestane is used as internal standard. The recovery of coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol in wastewater ranges from 90 to 100% and the detection limit is 1-2 microgl(-1). Moreover the method proved to be useful for the sterols determination in surface water too.
Gilli
Giorgio
G
Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy. giorgio.gilli@unito.it <giorgio.gilli@unito.it>
Rovere
Renato
R
Traversi
Deborah
D
Schilirò
Tiziana
T
Pignata
Cristina
C
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D013261:Sterols / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D013261:Sterols; D014873:Water Pollutants