Determination of naproxen, ibuprofen and triclosan in wastewater using the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS): A laboratory calibration and field application

Abstract

In this study, the occurrence in wastewater of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), naproxen and ibuprofen, and one personal care product, triclosan, was assessed using the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS). The samplers were initially calibrated in the laboratory to obtain sampling rates (R s ) for each target compound followed by deployment in the influent and effluent of Goudkoppies and Northern Wastewater Treatment Plants ( in Goudkoppies and Northern WWTPs, respectively. Average concentrations of these compounds in the treated effluent ranged from 10.7 to 13.5 μg•ℓ -1 in Goudkoppies WWTP, and 20.4 to 24.6 μg•ℓ -1 in Northern WWTP. Analyte removal efficiencies varied between 68 and 86% in Goudkoppies WWTP and 61 and 82% in Northern WWTP. Grab samples processed by SPE method yielded higher analyte concentrations (up to three-fold) as compared to POCIS-derived estimates. This discrepancy was attributed to SPE's ability to extract both the free dissolved, and particle sorbed fractions of the contaminants.

Review: <i>Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) in South African surface waters</i>

“…Amdany and colleagues (2014) showed varying levels of TCS in influents and effluents from two WWTWs in the Gauteng province of South Africa. These levels ranged from 78.4 to 127.7 µg/L in influent samples, and 10.7 to 22.9 µg/L in effluent samples (Amdany et al, 2014). Although the concentrations of TCS are significantly reduced after water treatment, these levels are still high if sub-lethal effects are taken into account.…”

“…Although the use of TCS has been phased out in several personal care products in developed countries, it is still found in South African consumer products, and therefore detected in surface waters (Amdany et al, 2014;Madikizela et al, 2014). Amdany and colleagues (2014) showed varying levels of TCS in influents and effluents from two WWTWs in the Gauteng province of South Africa.…”

Passive sampling of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in aquatic environments

“…With these analytical approaches, concentrations of PPCPs in the field can be reliably determined within the range of ng l −1 or ng sampler −1 (Table 1). LC with UV and fluorescence detection (FLD) was used by Amdany et al (2014a), whereas Cernoch et al successfully used a POCIS in combination with an immunochemical ELISA technique for a semi-quantitative screening of sulfonamides, which gave similar results to the LC-MS (Cernoch et al 2012). …”

“…A standard calibration procedure is still lacking and different approaches often involve the use of original laboratory devices, which results in variability in the determined R S values. Even though it is also virtually impossible to consider all the factors operating in the field, laboratory calibration is still the most popular method for evaluating R S (Bartelt-Hunt et al 2011;Li et al 2011;Miege et al 2012;Morin et al 2013;Vallejo et al 2013;Amdany et al 2014a;Bayen et al 2014;Belles et al 2014;Di Carro et al 2014;Kaserzon et al 2014). In situ calibration, at specific sites is more reliable but so far has rarely been used (Harman et al 2011;Jacquet et al 2012;Miege et al 2012;Shi et al 2014) because of the complexity of the process.…”

“…Other extraction media, e.g. ACN (Amdany et al 2014a), acetone (Tanwar et al 2015), MeOH/water (Bailly et al 2013;Creusot et al 2014) or MeOH/dichloromethane (Vystavna et al 2012;Creusot et al 2013;Morin et al 2013;Vystavna et al 2013) are also suitable. Some authors adjust the pH in order to improve the extraction (Harman et al 2011;Cernoch et al 2012;Bayen et al 2014;Shi et al 2014).…”