Effluents of biological waste water treatment plants containing high concentrations of non-biodegradable substances measured as COD (chemical oxygen demand) were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). GC/MS could detect any relevant compound because of involatility of these substances. LC/MS/MS was able to give molecular weight information without any separation bypassing analytical column. Daughter- and parent-ions formed by MS/MS gave structural information by fragmentation under CID-conditions (collisionally induced dissociation) even for UV-non-detectable chromophor missing substances.

Metabolites and anthropogenic, non-biodegradable substances such as polyether, nonionic alkyl-and arylsurfactants and benzene-sulfonic acid could be detected and identified after C 18 column separation and without any prior separation, bypassing column.

Analysis without any separation could be done within a few minutes up to an hour, column separation lasted 10 to 100 fold longer.

Non-biodegradable substances, waste water, effluents, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LS/MS/MS), surfactants, ozonisation, textile- and paper mill waste water
This content is only available as a PDF.
© IWA Publishing 1991
You do not currently have access to this content.