GC/MS, HPLC and FAB Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Organic Micropollutants in Barcelona's Water Supply

Abstract

Water samples from Llobregat river entering two water work plants, Barcelona tap water and waste dumping samples taken along the river course were analyzed for trace organic contaminants by different procedures, liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption on granular activated carbon followed by GC/MS/DS. Ether insoluble organic fractions were analyzed and fractionated by HPLC with diode-array detection, followed by FAB and FAB-CID-MIKE characterisation. Results, after two years monitoring, proved that surfactants, plasticizers, ethyleneglycol derivatives, phosphates, hydrocarbons and other miscellaneous compounds can be considered as chronic pollutants of Liobregat river. Some of the identified compounds by GC/MS and FAB mass spectrometry have not been previously reported to occur in water.