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Evaluation of a commercially available ELISA kit as a tool to determine BTEX in groundwater
E Francioni1, G Fillmann, C Hamacher
1Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Depto. de Química, Marques de São Vicemte, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, 22453-900.
Abstract:
The reliability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests as a screening technique to address groundwater contamination was tested in an area following leakage of gasoline from a petrol station. Immunoassay data of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m- and p-xylene (BTEX) were compared with results obtained using capillary gas chromatographic analysis. Detection limits were of 20 microg l(-1) for ELISA and 0.3 microg l(-1) for gas chromatography with flame ionization and photoionization detectors (GC-FID/PID) determination. Despite an observed overestimation of BTEX concentrations as given by ELISA, the tests responded reliably to different levels of contamination.