Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


akron1242748589.pdf (625.58 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Permeation Sampling of Phthalate Esters

Steele, Heather L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1242748589

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Chemistry.
A permeation sampling method for the six phthalate esters that are considered priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was developed. The permeation sampling device utilizes a silicone polycarbonate membrane through which the analytes are able to permeate through and are collected onto an adsorbent. After a timed sampling period, the samplers were removed from the water and the analytes were extracted from the adsorbent using a desorbing solvent, with the resulting solution analyzed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of the phthalates in the water were determined by creating plots of amount of analyte collected versus the product of concentration and time (ppm•hr) for each phthalate. Experimentation showed that a linear correlation was obtained between the amount of analyte collected and the product of concentration and time for each phthalate. The effects of different sample solution temperatures and sample stirring rates on the amount of phthalates collected were evaluated. Also, the effect on the permeation rates of the phthalates due to the presence of several potential interferents that are commonly present in water, including: humic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium sulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium nitrate, sodium chloride and pH were studied. An advantage of this method included that minimal amount of solvent used as compared to other liquid-liquid extraction methods which use up to 0.5 L of harmful solvents. In a second part of the study, the six phthalate esters were removed from the adsorbent using thermal desorption rather than solvent extraction. After the sampling period, the analyte collected onto the adsorbent was thermally desorbed using a Thermal Desorption Unit. A stream of helium carried the desorbed analytes into a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) after the sampling period. As in the case of the solvent extraction method, for all six phthalates the resulting TWA plots had linear correlations, allowing for the determination of permeation constants for the phthalates. Using the thermal desorption method it was possible to determine the lag times for each phthalate.
James K. Hardy, PhD (Advisor)
89 p.
Analytical Chemistry
Passive Sampling; Adsorbent; Phthalate Esters; Thermal Desorption

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Steele, H. L. (2009). Permeation Sampling of Phthalate Esters [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1242748589

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Steele, Heather. Permeation Sampling of Phthalate Esters. 2009. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1242748589.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Steele, Heather. "Permeation Sampling of Phthalate Esters." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1242748589

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1242748589
851
© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.