Application of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to the Identification of Trace Organics in Water

Abstract

The application of dual-beam Fourier transform IR spectroscopy to the on-line identification of organic water pollutants separated by gas chromatography [GC] and high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] is described. The materials are concentrated using neutral polystyrene resins, eluted with diethyl ether and chromatographed. For GC-IR measurements, readily identifiable spectra from compounds originally present at a level of 2 ppb may be obtained, and if procedures are optimized an increase in sensitivity of at least an order of magnitude is predicted. HPLC-IR measurements using conventional flow-through cells are less sensitive, and a procedure for solvent elimination is suggested which will yield submicrogram detection limits.