Microextracción en fase sólida "in-tube" para el análisis de compuestos orgánicos en matrices atmosféricas

Abstract

This PhD Thesis presents the development of analytical methodologies for the determination of three groups of organic compounds of a great interest (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates and amines) in atmospheric matrices (rainwater and atmospheric particulate matter). The developed methods use in-tube solid phase microextraction on-line coupled to liquid chromatography (IT-SPME-HPLC) to reduce significantly the steps of sample treatment, volume consumption of both sample and organic solvents and the time analysis, achieving detection and quantitation limits for trace/ultratrace analytes. In addition, a scoping review about IT-SPME, state of art and its strengths and weaknesses, has been performed. The methods have been applied to short precipitation events, which cannot be analysed by classic methods, and to study the stability of PAHs in rainwater. Characterization of PM10 has been performed by analysing major ions, trace metals, elemental composition, stable isotopic ratios and carbonaceous fraction, including water soluble organic carbon. Finally, a source apportionment study has been performed by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF).