Simultaneous analysis of trihalomethanes (THM) and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) in drinking water

Chloration is the most common known method for disinfaction. As a result of this application, organic substances in surface water react with chlorine to form carcinogenic substances known as trihalomethane (THM). In addition to THM, it is important to monitor the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may occur as a result of the pollution of drinking water resources by industrial and agricultural activities, in the analysis of drinking water. Scope of work; using Purge-Trap (P-T) and GC-MS, it is aimed to analyze firstly THMs and VOCs by EPA 524.2 Purgeable Water by Capillary Colon Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry in Buski Dobruca Drinking Water Treatment Plants. Especially in the analysis of epichlorohydrin compound, samples were heated to accelerated the evaporation of the compound using electrical heating system. In the present study, the recovery limit values of the method considering as 20% RSD and ±20% was calculated as LOQ in respectively for vinyl chloride 0.032 µg L-1, benzene 0.098 µg L-1, 1,2-dichloroethane 0.395 µg L-1, epichlorohydrin 0.048 µg L-1 and the maximum value for tetrachlorethene-trichlorethene 0.276 µg L-1 and for THM, the maximum value for chloroform of 0.886 µg L-1. Associated with the established method of the analysis simultaneous with the network water of Bursa Province; in 2016 2904 VOC analysis were performed on 484 sample and also 3420 VOC were found on 570 sample in 2017. In consideration of the obtained data, the content of drinking water was evaluated in terms of VOC, and only THM was determined with analytical interpretation.