Trace Organics in Missouri Subsurface Waters: Fid-Bau Portal

Trace Organics in Missouri Subsurface Waters

Grigoropoulos, Sotirios G. / Smith, John W.

The main objectives of this investigation were: the recovery of organic micropollutants from subsurface and surface Missouri waters; the characterization and identification of these substances; the evaluation of their toxic effects, both acute and long‐term; and, the development of methods for their destruction or removal. This article reports on the first phase of the study, which is primarily concerned with the recovery and characterization of organic micropollutants from several subsurface waters. An additional objective was the evaluation of the carbon adsorption method with regard to the number of filters required for the effective recovery of organic materials. Two modified carbon adsorption assemblies, consisting of three activated carbon filter units arranged in series were used for the study. Three subsurface waters, two deep wells and a spring were sampled. One filter run was made at each well while two runs were made at the spring. Water at its natural pH was passed through the three activated carbon filters in an upflow direction. The carbon was removed from the filters and the organic matter that was adsorbed onto the carbon was extracted sequentially with redistilled chloroform, ethanol, and then acetone and benzene, or benzene and acetone, using four modified extractors.