title: Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sediments using in situ SPME sampling.
abstract: A new method of determining the composition of sediment/soil gases and their volatile organic compound (VOC) content is described. VOCs were collected in situ from intertidal sediments in the Menai Strait and surrounding areas. The sampling was performed using a portable sampler comprising a funnel coupled to a SPME fibre. Gases were extracted from the sediments using a small vacuum pump pulling 100 mL min(-1) at atmospheric pressure. Sixty one different compounds were detected in the samples, and their fluxes and concentrations were determined. The compounds were classified into groups: halogenated, sulfur containing compounds, aldehydes, BTEXs (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene) and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the chemical composition of extracted gas was influenced primarily by sediment type. Muddy anoxic sediments were dominated by halogenated and sulfur containing compounds and sandy sediments had more aldehydes and BTEXs.
authors.affiliation: School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales-Bangor, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, UK LL59 5AB.
authors.forename: Claudio M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bravo-Linares
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mudge
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D006839:Hydrocarbons, Acyclic / Q000032:analysis; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000447:Aldehydes; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D006839:Hydrocarbons, Acyclic; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013457:Sulfur Compounds