Determination of trace organic pollutants in water by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of solvent extracts

Abstract

Extraction with carbon tetrachloride followed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, using a pulsed Fourier transform spectrometer with external field-frequency lock, has been investigated as a method for identifying and determining trace organic pollutants in water. The resulting spectra can be used as fingerprints in order to identify pollutants, and for quantitative measurements on specific compounds. The method is useful for all hydrogen-containing compounds that are efficiently extracted by the solvent, including hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides. Measurements can be made over a wide range of pollutant concentrations, from heavily polluted effluents to waters containing as little as 15 µg l^–1 of alkanes.