Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sediments using in situ SPME sampling

Abstract

A new method of determining the composition of sediment/soil gases and their volatile organic compound (VOC) content is described. VOCs were collected in situ from intertidal sediments in the Menai Strait and surrounding areas. The sampling was performed using a portable sampler comprising a funnel coupled to a SPME fibre. Gases were extracted from the sediments using a small vacuum pump pulling 100 mL min(-1) at atmospheric pressure. Sixty one different compounds were detected in the samples, and their fluxes and concentrations were determined. The compounds were classified into groups: halogenated, sulfur containing compounds, aldehydes, BTEXs (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene) and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the chemical composition of extracted gas was influenced primarily by sediment type. Muddy anoxic sediments were dominated by halogenated and sulfur containing compounds and sandy sediments had more aldehydes and BTEXs.

Production of Volatile Organic Compounds (Vocs) by Temperate Macroalgae: The Use of Solid Phase Microextraction (Spme) Coupled to Gc-MS as Method of Analysis

“…This microalgal signature only dominated the seawater profile for two months of the year covering the bloom period of these species 46 . Contributions from the sediments 31 increased following the senescence of the microalgae 46 . In contrast, the macroalgae contributed throughout the year and were the principal identifiable source of VOCs to the coastal water in this uncontaminated area.…”

“…As part of a wider investigation into VOCs in the coastal marine environment 31,32 , a study was undertaken to determine the contribution that macroalgae make to VOCs in local seawater for subsequent transfer to the atmosphere. These studies were undertaken using Solid Phase MicroExtraction (SPME) techniques which have been shown to have a wider applicability and greater sensitivity for biogenic VOCs than other methods 33 .…”

The Composition and Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds in Sediments of the East Taijinar Salt Lake in Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

“…Moreover, VOCs supply nutrients for microbial cells and mediate intercellular interactions, and they play a critical role in regulating the diversity, compositions, and network structures of prokaryotic communities in saline sediments (Ding et al, 2020). Meanwhile, they serve important roles by acting as both a source and sink of organic compounds (Bravo-Linares and Mudge, 2007). Therefore, it is crucial to measure VOCs in salt lake sediments.…”

Detection of methamphetamine in indoor air using dynamic solid phase microextraction: a supplementary method to surface wipe sampling

“…When the dynamic SPME eld sampler was initially constructed, all but two 38,39 of the existing dynamic SPME arrangements placed the SPME bres perpendicular to the airow. The axial position of the SPME bre was selected to promote laminar airow and to reduce the likelihood of the bre exing at high air ows.…”