title: Exploring new DGT samplers containing a polymer inclusion membrane for mercury monitoring.
abstract: A polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) made of cellulose triacetate as a polymer and the task specific ionic liquid (IL) trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) was assembled as a new Diffusive Gradients in Thin film (DGT) device to test its efficiency as a binding phase for mercury (Hg) monitoring. The effect of IL content was assessed, showing that higher TOMATS percentage is better for short deployment studies (up to hours), whereas for long-term exposure (up to days), a lower content can be more suitable. Different configurations of PIM-DGT samplers have been tested under controlled conditions and compared with in-house DGT conventional ones, manufactured with thiol groups as resin layer, for the determination of labile Hg. According to our results, a nonlinear accumulation profile of Hg with deployment time for the different designs of PIM-DGT was observed, limiting the range of applicability of the DGT technique. Promising results for the efficient removal of Hg from aqueous solutions and/or environmental monitoring studies were obtained with TOMATS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turull
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi s/n, 17071, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi s/n, 17071, Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Clàudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontàs
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain. sdsqam@cid.csic.es.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díez
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Binding phase; Diffusive gradients in thin film; Hg; Polymer inclusion membranes; Trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate