Analysis of trihalomethane adsorption by a broiler manure-based carbon using solid phase microextraction and purge and trap techniques

CELL 271

Isabel M Lima, imlima@srrc.ars.usda.gov and Thomas K. Klasson, tklasson@srrc.ars.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124
Value added applications for the utilization of readily available and renewable broiler manure could help reduce a complicated disposal problem. Pelletized broiler litter was converted into granular activated carbons in a laboratory-scale furnace. The ability of these carbons to adsorb a suite of four different trihalomethanes in solution was investigated. Isotherm curves were generated by exposing varying amounts of carbon to 10 ppm-solutions each of chloroform, diclorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform. Amount adsorbed was measured by two different gas chromatography methods. Purge and trap (P&T) and solid phase micro extraction methods, SPME coupled with mass spectrometric detection were used and compared to measure the amount of trihalomethanes remaining in solution after 24 hr batch adsorption studies. Results obtained from SPME and P&T were relatively similar in terms of reproducibility and sensitivity.