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Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCMs) in Sediments: Method Validation and Detection in Sediment Samples from Three Typical
Huijun Su1, Shaobo Shi1, Ming Zhu1
1School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China.
Environmental Science & Technology
|February 2, 2021
Summary
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are potentially harmful chemicals. This study developed a new method to detect LCMs in sediments, finding them in most samples, especially near manufacturing sites.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are suspected persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances.
- Limited data exists on LCM occurrence in environmental matrices like sediment.
- Understanding LCM distribution is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an analytical method for quantifying LCMs in sediment samples.
- To investigate the occurrence and distribution of LCMs in sediments from various environmental settings.
- To provide the first quantitative data on LCM concentrations in sediments.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel pretreatment procedure for sediment sample analysis.
- Quantitative determination of 39 target LCMs using the developed method.
- Analysis of 76 sediment samples collected from rivers near LCM/LCD manufacturers, Taihu Lake, and e-waste recycling sites.
Main Results:
- LCMs were detected in 75 out of 76 analyzed sediment samples.
- Specific LCMs were quantified in sediments near LCM/LCD manufacturers (mean 26.1 ng/g dw), e-waste sites (1.15 ng/g dw), and Taihu Lake (0.076 ng/g dw).
- The developed analytical method proved effective for LCM determination in sediments.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first validated analytical method for quantifying LCMs in sediment.
- The findings provide the first evidence of widespread LCM occurrence in sediment samples.
- Sediments near LCM/LCD manufacturing facilities show the highest LCM concentrations, indicating potential hotspots.
