Abstract
A simple and rapid method for the determination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water by headspace-solid-phase microextraction (headspace-SPME) at sub-µg/L concentrations is described. On using a cooled SPME fiber coated with a 75-µm layer of poly(dimethylsiloxane)/carboxene and heating the sample to 35 °C, about 4 times more MTBE is extracted compared to SPME extraction with the fiber placed in the water sample. Stable analytical conditions with a detection limit of 10 ng/L are achieved. By use of a sample volume of 4 mL in a 10 mL vial, a sodium chloride content of 10% (w/w), and an extraction time of 30 min, the total time of an analytical cycle was optimized to 39 min. Precise linearity of R 2>0.9991 and R 2>0.9916 in the calibration range of 20–5000 ng/L and 20–100 ng/L, both in addition to blanks, respectively, and relative standard deviations of 10% (100 ng/L, long-term) and 11% (20 ng/L, short-term) are presented. The recovery is well within the accepted limits of 83–118% at a concentration of 100 ng/L and even close thereto at trace levels of 20 ng/L (96–125%). The data presented for a concentration of 100 ng/L are examined by statistical methods and show results for the T test at the 95% confidence level. Due to the large concentration range covered, the method is well suited for the monitoring of MTBE in the aquatic environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Achten, C., Kolb, A. & Püttmann, W. Sensitive method for determination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water by use of headspace-SPME/GC–MS. Fresenius J Anal Chem 371, 519–525 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160100984
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160100984