Calibration and field performance of triolein embedded acetate membranes for passive sampling persistent organic pollutants in water

Triolein embedded cellulose acetate membrane (TECAM) passive samplers provide potentially powerful tool for monitoring time weighted average concentrations (CTWA) of trace hydrophobic organic contaminants in water. To study the field performance of TECAM, exchange kinetics of chemicals between water and TECAM were studied at different temperature and water flow rates. Results showed that the uptake rate constant (ku) in TECAM was less sensitive to temperature variation than the SPMD and Chemcatcher. The ku in TECAM was sensitive to even a slight change of the flow rate, which required the field calibration using performance reference compounds (PRCs). To estimate CTWA by TECAM, both empirical model and WBL model were compared in laboratory conditions, and only small differences were observed between the predicted and measured ku. Field validation was conducted to test the sampler performance alongside spot sampling. A good agreement of water concentration was obtained by the two sampling techniques.

► The sampling performance of TECAM was sensitive to water flow rates variations.
► The influence of water flow rates on TECAM could be well corrected by using PRCs.
► TECAM could be a promising tool for in situ determination of HOCs.