title: Analytical method development for the determination of eight biocides in various environmental compartments and application for monitoring purposes.
abstract: The main objective of this study was the development of simple multi-parameter methods for the analyses of biocides in various environmental matrices (wastewater, surface water, and sewage sludge) for measurement and monitoring activities. Eight target substances (triclosan, methyltriclosan (transformation product of triclosan), cybutryne (Irgarol), and the azole fungicides propiconazole, tebuconazole, imazalil, thiabendazole, and cyproconazole) were chosen for determination in selected sample sets. For surface water and wastewater samples a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method and for sewage sludge samples an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) were developed. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods (GC/MS), and the analytical methods were checked to ensure sufficient sensitivity by comparing the limits of quantification (LOQs) to the predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) of the selected biocides. For quality control, recovery rates were determined. Finally, developed methods were checked and validated by application on sample material from various matrices. Sampling took place in seven urban wastewater treatment plants and their corresponding receiving waters. The results revealed that the developed extraction methods are effective and simple and allow the determination of a broad range of biocides in various environmental compartments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, Energy and Mineral Resources Group, RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstr. 4-20, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wluka
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), Business Area Environmental Monitoring, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392, Schmallenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rüdel
authors.affiliation: German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06844, Dessau-Rosslau, Germany.
authors.forename: Korinna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, Energy and Mineral Resources Group, RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstr. 4-20, 52056, Aachen, Germany. jan.schwarzbauer@emr.rwth-aachen.de.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7307-9491
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwarzbauer
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Accelerated solvent extraction; Azole fungicides; Biocides; Environmental compartments; GC/MS analysis; Multi-parameter method; Solid-phase extraction; Wastewater