Application of membrane introduction mass spectrometry to the study of adsorption of organic compounds on activated carbon and solid phase extraction experiments

Abstract

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry was used to study adsorption and desorption processes of a set of organic compounds (benzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, phenol, 1-butanol, 1-octanol, chlorobenzene, chloroform, and 1,2-dichloropropane) in aqueous solution on activated carbon. Competitive adsorption of these organic compounds on activated carbon was also suitably evaluated by MIMS. Moreover, MIMS can be used to carry out SPE (solid phase extraction) experiments in which the organic compounds are first adsorbed on activated carbon, and subsequently desorbed to water. Using the MIMS apparatus, these compounds were promptly identified and quantified.