Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of organic pollutants in French soils irrigated with agro-industrial wastewater

Abstract

The use of agro-industrial wastewater in the agricultural sector is an interesting practice to save resources but it can bring various contaminants to the receiving soils. In this study 19 organic pollutants [8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), 6 BTEX, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, tributyltin and diethylphtalate] were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in soils irrigated with agro-industrial wastewater from sugar refinery. The soils were sampled at five different locations to evaluate the contamination heterogeneity. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was performed using methanol and hexane and extraction yields ranged from 44% to 96%. The detection limits of the method were between 1.6 and 64 μg·L−1 for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 0.42 μg·L−1 for diethylphthalate, 0.77 μg·L−1 for tributyltin and until 9.8 μg·L−1 for phenol compounds. The highest contaminant concentrations measured in the soil samples, between 0.4 and 1.2 ng·g−1, were monitored for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons molecules, including napthalene, anthracene, fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[ghi]perylene. Toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers accounted from 21 to 66 ng·g−1 (mostly toluene). Benzene, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, tributyltin and diethylphtalate were not detected in soils. The proposed method enables analysis of a wide variety of regulated compounds in a unique preparation step and a unique analytical method. The mean amounts of pollutants were in agreement with measurements or estimates performed in similar contexts.

Unraveling the shift in bacterial communities profile grown in sediments co-contaminated with chlorolignin waste of pulp-paper mill by metagenomics approach

“…The GC–MS is a robust analytical tool extensively employed to identify and quantify organic compounds in a complex environmental samples ( Špánik and Machyňáková, 2018 ; Maurin et al, 2023 ). In the present study, the GC–MS technique has been utilized to detect and characterize organic compounds in the organic extract, extracted with two different solvents namely ethyl acetate and DCM, derived from PPS-1 and PPS-2.…”

Sustainable Remediation of Soil and Water Utilizing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Review

“…Human activity is a significant source of soil contamination, with waste from household, industry, and agriculture contributing to the problem [2]. When domestic or industrial wastewater is not properly treated, it can indirectly lead to soil pollution through activities such as irrigation [3]. Unfortunately, wastewater discharges from these activities and farming are common causes of water pollution [4].…”