Determination of Polar Organic Pollutants in Aqueous Samples of Former Ammunition Sites in Lower Saxony by Means of HPLC/Photodiode Array Detection (HPLC/PDA) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( 1H-NMR)

Leachate, ground-, and surface water from former ammunition sites and areas which are known to be contaminated by nitroaromatic compounds in Lower Saxony (Germany) were investigated in order to identify and quantify acidic nitroaromatic compounds (e.g., nitrobenzoic acids, aminonitrobenzoic acids, nitrophenols, and nitrocresols). Acidic and neutral nitroaromatic compounds were enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on a polystyrenedivinylbenzene copolymer and routinely screened for acidic compounds by means of HPLC/photodiode array detection (HPLC/PDA). Qualitative and quantitative results obtained in this way were corroborated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). Validation data for the quantification procedure using this technique are given. The results show that all samples contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and related compounds are also contaminated by acidic nitroaromatic compounds (e.g., 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, 3,5-dinitrophenol, and especially with 2-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid) in the μg/L range. This current work shows that 1 H-NMR allows the quantitative determination of protoncarrying analytes in mixtures after solid-phase extraction down to the upper ng/L range after addition of an internal standard to the SPE extract. This is even possible when reference compounds are not commercially available.     

Zink in der Umwelt

Zinc in the Environment. In 1990 the world production of zinc ammounted to 7 Mio. metric tons. The main areas of application were: galvanization, alloys like brass and zinc metal. The content in the earth crust varies between 10–300 ppm zinc with a mean of 70 ppm. Uncontaminated surface waters contain less than 10 mg/m³ zinc. Apart from civilization air contains 1–10 ng zinc per m³. These background concentrations are exceeded by orders of magnitude in zinc deposit areas and where anthropogenic influences predominate. Accumulation can occur in sediments and sewage sludge. Molluscs and Algae also accumulate zinc. Zinc is essential for live. With normal food the zinc supply of man is just sufficient. Bioaccumulation of zinc towards man or chronic oversupply of man is not known. Zinc has no teratogenic or mutagenic effects, a suspicion on a carcinogenic effect proved wrong. In stockbreeding and plant cultivation a minimum supply of zinc is necessary. Plants are relatively less sensitive against higher soil contents of zinc. Considering the toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of zinc in the environment, the critical organismens are marine invertebratae like tubifex, daphnia, gammarus and algae. But normally only a minor part of the total zinc contest is biologically available, depending on salt content and pH of the waters.