Development of separation and detection techniques to analyze organic and organometallic pollutants in environmental samples

Resumen

The ambitious Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60) set up a list of 33 priority substances, withEnvironmental Quality Standards (EQS) for each substance, and their concentration in aquaticenvironments should not go beyond the EQS. Additionally, it requires specific analytical methodperformances: the limit of quantification must be at least as low as 30 % of the EQS and theuncertainty of the method at the EQS level must be inferior to 50 %, for k=2. Therefore, the currentanalytical challenge is to measure low concentrations of these pollutants in sometimes difficultmatrices. This can be achieved by improving the extraction technique used to obtain a moreconcentrated and cleaner sample extract. In this context, 3 analytical methods were developed todetermine musk, alkylphenols and organometallic compounds in environmental matrices. Recentextraction and pre-concentration techniques were applied and later the occurrence of thesecompounds in the local WWTPs and in the receiving water bodies where they are discharged wasevaluated. Additionally, updated French background concentrations were established fororganometallic compounds.