Analysis of TVOCs of sediments using in situ TDS-GC-MSD sampling in the Nakdong River Estuary, South Korea

Abstract

A new method of determining the composition of sediment gases and their total volatile organic compound (TVOC) content is described. TVOCs were collected in and around three islands in the Nakdong River estuary, in the southeastern Korean Peninsula on from 2015 to 2016. The emissions of TVOCs from sediments were measured using a thermal desorption system-gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (TDS-GC-MSD). The TVOC compounds were classified into groups: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and Styrene (BTEXS). The TVOC ranged from 2.6 to 64.9 ng/g-dry weight (average, 13.2 ± 13.8 ng/g-dry weight). Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that groupings in three circles are related to: (1) TVOCs (2) sediments (mean size) and (3) organic geo-chemicals (TOC, TN, TS, and C/N ratios). This method can be used to estimate their behavior in marine environments and good alternative to the traditional solvent extraction method for determining the concentration levels. It is necessary to continue measurement for sediments and water in brackish water zone around barrier system and to compare the results of prediction flow of tidal current vector at these locations with on-site occurrence monitoring results.eninsula on from 2015 to 2016. The emissions of TVOCs from sediments were measured using a thermal desorption system-gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (TDS-GC-MSD). The TVOC compounds were classified into groups: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and Styrene (BTEXS). The TVOC ranged from 2.6 to 64.9 ng/g-dry weight (average, 13.2 ± 13.8 ng/g-dry weight). Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that groupings in three circles are related to: (1) TVOCs (2) sediments (mean size) and (3) organic geo-chemicals (TOC, TN, TS, and C/N ratios). This method can be used to estimate their behavior in marine environments and good alternative to the traditional solvent extraction method for determining the concentration levels. It is necessary to continue measurement for sediments and water in brackish water zone around barrier system and to compare the results of prediction flow of tidal current vector at these locations with on-site occurrence monitoring results.