Evaluation of Volatile Organic Pollutants in Water Samples from Durres's Port by Using the HS/SPME Technique
Evaluation of Volatile Organic Pollutants in Water Samples from Durres's Port by Using the HS/SPME Technique

Author(s): Esmeralda Halo, Bledar Murtaj, Aurel Nuro
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: Port of Durres; VOC; Chlorobenzenes. BTEX; HS/SPME; GC/ECD/FID
Summary/Abstract: In this paper, the concentrations of some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water samples from the port of Durres are presented. The Port of Durres is the largest port in Albania and one of the largest in the Balkans. Port water is affected by pollution that comes mainly from intensive shipping and other activities near the port area. The volatile organic pollutants that were analyzed were chlorobenzenes and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, ortho-, meta-, and para-xylenes). Water samples were taken in July 2022 at 12 different stations near the port of Durres. The headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS/SPME) method was used for the extraction and quantitative analysis of chlorobenzenes and BTEX, followed by gas chromatography (GC) techniques. This method presents advantages for the analysis of volatile pollutants because it eliminates the use of organic solvents and different sample treatment steps that often lead to erroneous results. The sensitivity and reproducibility of HS are favorable for volatile organic pollutants. The adsorption of organic pollutants was carried out on a polydimethylsiloxane (PS) fiber at a temperature of 50 oC for 30 minutes. The desorption process was carried out in the injector of the gas chromatograph at a high temperature (250 oC for 10 seconds). The qualitative and quantitative analysis of chlorobenzenes (mono-, di-, three-, tetra-, penta-, and hexachlorobenzene) was realized in the GC/ECD apparatus, while the analysis of BTEX was carried out in the GC/FID apparatus. Volatile organic pollutants were present in almost all of the samples analyzed. BTEXs were detected at higher levels. Their presence is related to the high intensity of transport within the area of the port of Durres. Toluene was the compound that was most frequently identified in the highest amount for all samples. Also, chlorobenzenes were detected in all the analyzed samples. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene was identified at a higher level in some stations inside the port of Durres. The presence of chlorobenzenes can be a consequence of urban spills, cleaning and sanitization processes (in the port area, on ships, etc.), or as degradation products of other compounds (pesticides, PCBs, etc.). The presence of BTEX and chlorobenzenes in the water samples from the port of Durres shows that the monitoring of this area should be continuous.

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