On-rod standardization technique for time-weighted average water sampling with a polydimethylsiloxane rod

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Material Science

Background:

• Passive sampling offers a cost-effective alternative for monitoring environmental pollutants.
• Traditional methods often require complex sample preparation and multiple steps.
• Accurate determination of time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations is crucial for environmental risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rod passive sampler for environmental monitoring.
• To implement an on-rod standardization technique for accurate quantification of analytes.
• To assess the sampler's efficacy in measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic environments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a PDMS rod based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) principles.
• Application of an on-rod standardization technique for calibration using pre-loaded standards.
• Laboratory testing using a flow-through system and field deployment in Hamilton Harbour.
• Direct analysis of target analytes without further sample preparation.

Main Results:

• The PDMS rod passive sampler with on-rod standardization successfully measured TWA concentrations of PAHs in Hamilton Harbour.
• Both laboratory and field experiments confirmed the sampler's reliability and accuracy.
• The integrated approach of sampling, isolation, and enrichment in one step was validated.

Conclusions:

• The developed PDMS rod passive sampler is an effective tool for TWA water sampling in the field.
• The on-rod standardization technique enhances accuracy and simplifies the analytical process.
• This method provides an economical, efficient, and easy-to-deploy solution for environmental pollutant monitoring.