Determining River Water Quality Using Atomic Absorption and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

The presence of metals and volatile organic compounds were determined at four sites across the Susquehanna River. Dissolved and total metal concentrations of twelve metals were determined using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy of filter and digested river water samples, respectively. Metal concentrations were found to range from below the detection limit to almost 10 ppm. Metal content for many metals was found to be similar to results from previous samples. The presence of volatile organic compounds was determined using solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). GC/MS studies indicated the possible presence of butylated hydroxytoluene and di-tert-butylphenol. Work is ongoing and will focus on continued collection of GC/MS data, and metal content using more sensitive furnace atomic absorption techniques.