Passive samplers for polar organic compounds – strengths and weaknesses
Event details
| Date | 12.03.2013 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Etienne Vermeirssen, Centre Ecotox EAWAG |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Passive samplers, when placed in lake or river water or in effluent streams, will take up chemicals that can subsequently be identified and quantified in passive sampler extracts. In this way, these sampling devices can serve as a more robust or more economical alternative to traditional methods such as grab or automated water sampling or the sampling of biota. Compared to other sampling techniques, passive sampler extracts often allow for an improved detection of compounds of interest. Furthermore, in the ideal scenario, a passive sampler provides an accurate estimate of the time weighted average water (TWA) concentration. The calculation of TWA concentrations requires information on uptake kinetics (sampling rates). Therefore, passive samplers are calibrated in the lab prior to their application in the field. As calibration conditions in the lab rarely match conditions during field deployments, there are always uncertainties associated with TWA concentrations. For example, environmental conditions in the field such as the flow rate or temperature directly affect uptake processes and thus TWA values.
In this seminar, an overview will be given on the background and use of two polar organic samplers: POCIS and Chemcatcher. Information on calibration, uptake kinetics, and field applications will be pulled together to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the sampling technique. Examples will cover LC-MS/MS data coming from laboratory experiments, where samplers were exposed to know cocktails of chemicals, and field studies where passive sampler extracts were analysed by means of different biological assays.
In this seminar, an overview will be given on the background and use of two polar organic samplers: POCIS and Chemcatcher. Information on calibration, uptake kinetics, and field applications will be pulled together to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the sampling technique. Examples will cover LC-MS/MS data coming from laboratory experiments, where samplers were exposed to know cocktails of chemicals, and field studies where passive sampler extracts were analysed by means of different biological assays.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- IIE
Contact
- Dr Felippe de Alencastro, GR-CEL