OR/17/011 Conclusions

White, D, Williams, P J, Civil, W, and Lapworth, D J. 2017. A field based method for pre-concentration of micro organics using solid phase extraction. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/17/011.

The results from the trial concluded that the method was valid and the technique was portable and easy enough to run in a field laboratory or hotel room. Considerable resources could be saved by transporting the processed samples sorbed onto the cartridges instead of as 1 litre water samples. Samples were also seen to be stable over time although some change over time was seen with some compounds.

After the initial trial the technique was used to sample the River Thames from the source to the sea most samples in this project were taken direct from the bank without the use of a pump, however, the Solinst™ peristaltic pump was used where it was too hazardous to sample in this manner. The tidal part of the Thames was sampled from a boat using the Solinst™ pump. At the sites the pump was needed all tubing was rinsed thoroughly with sample water prior to sampling. Additional blanks were run during this study to test the field procedures and a small number of compounds were found in the field blanks run through the Solinst™ pump post sampling

This field-based technique was successfully trailed in India, where samples were extracted in the field, and shipped back to the UK for broad-screen LC-MS analysis. Using the field based SPE method reduced uncertainty regarding sample degradation and reduced shipping costs and allowed the project to analyse more samples than would have been possible without the field based SPE method.