Determination of Tetrachloroethene, Trichloroethylene, and Their Metabolites at Trace Levels in Ground Waters by On‐Line Solid Phase Extraction/HPLC

Abstract

On-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (PRHPLC-DAD) detection was developed for the determination of tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and the metabolites [cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), trans-1,2-dichloroethene (trans-DCE)] in ground waters. The PCE, TCE, and their metabolites were directly concentrated and cleaned-up on the cartridge, and separated by a C 18 column with UV at 210 nm. Five sorbents (C 8 , C 18 , PLRP-S, PRP-1, and Bond-Elut Env) were evaluated to concentrate these compounds. The recoveries of the compounds were significantly improved by the addition of 10% (v/v) acetonitrile (ACN) to 885 ORDER REPRINTS the sample before loading. When a 50 mL sample spiked with 1 mg/L was loaded onto PLRP-S sorbent, the recoveries of the compounds ranged from 66.7% to 104.5%. The determination of these compounds was possible with detection limits less than 0.05 mg/L. The method was compared with a gas chromatography (GC) for the determination of TCE, and good agreement was achieved between both methods. The TCE and its metabolites in ground waters were determined from industrial sites in Salisbury, South Australia to characterize the distribution and assess potential remediation of TCE.