Abstract |
Because there are no quantitative analytical techniques for the complex organic matter that occurs in chlorinated water, it is not possible to directly determine the efficiency of techniques for isolating them. Seven methods capable of isolating gram quantities of organic matter from water samples were evaluated by determining the ability of each to recover a set of model compounds possessing a wide variation in polarity, functional groups, water solubility and molecular weight. No single method appeared to be superior overall, based on the recovery of the model solutes, but some could be eliminated from field application for the present time since the adsorbents required were not commercially available. Field application of two methods were undertaken and the samples collected are being tested in several bioassays. |