A solid-phase microextraction method for the in vivo sampling of MTBE in common reed (Phragmites australis)

Phytoscreening of phytoremediation-based plantings is discussed as a promising monitoring tool in literature. We developed and applied an analytical procedure for the in vivo sampling of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in the common reed (Phragmites australis) from a phytoremediation site highly polluted with MTBE. The approach uses solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with the SPME fibre directly introduced into the aerenchyma of the plant stem. For optimising the analytical procedure and estimating the capability of the proposed method, laboratory tests on the microcosm scale and field studies over one vegetation period were carried out. Furthermore, the results of in vivo SPME sampling were compared with those obtained with the traditional approach for analysing plants using dynamic headspace analysis. The MTBE signals detected within the plants were also correlated with the concentration in the water phase. The discussion of results showed the feasibility of the proposed method for a qualitative phytoscreening of volatile organic compounds present in wetland plants.