Simultaneous determination of ten taste and odor compounds in drinking water by solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Taste and odor （T＆O） problems in drinking water frequently occur because of many compounds present in the water, of which trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol （geosrnin） and 2-methylisoborneol （MIB） are well-known. In this study, a fast and effective method was established for simultaneous determination of 10 T＆O compounds, including geosmin, MIB, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole （TCA）, 2-methylbenzofuran, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine （IPMP）, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine （IBMP）, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, trans,trans-2,4-heptadienal, trans, cis-2,6-nonadienal, and trans-2-decenal in water samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction （SPME） coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An orthogonal array experimental design was used to optimize the effects of SPME fiber, extraction temperature, stirring rate, NaC1 content, extraction time, and desorption time. The limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 73 ng/L were lower than or close to the odor threshold concentrations （OTCs）. All the 10 T＆O compounds were detected in the 14 water samples including surface water, treatment process water and tap water, taken from a waterworks in Lianyungang City, China. MIB and geosmin were detected in most samples at low concentration. Six T＆O compounds （IPMP, IBMP, trans,cis-2,6-nonadienal, 2-methylbenzofuran, trans-2-decenal, and TCA） were effectively decreased in water treatment process （sedimentation and filtration） that is different from cis-3-hexenyl acetate, MIB and geosmin. It is noted that the TCA concentrations at 15.9-122.3 ng/L and the trans,cis-2,6-nonadienal concentrations at 79.9-190.1 ng/L were over 10 times higher than their OTCs in tap water. The variation of the analytes in the all water samples, especially distribution system indicated that distribution system cannot be ignored as a T＆O compounds source.

Simultaneous analysis of five taste and odor compounds in surface water using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In this paper, a method using solid-phase extraction （SPE） and gas chromatography-mass spectro- metry （GC-MS） was developed to simultaneously analyze five taste and odor compounds in surface water, i.e., 2- methylisoborneol （2-MIB）, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole （TCA）, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy pyrazine （IPMP）, 2-isobutyl-3- methoxy pyrazine （IBMP）, and trans-l,lO-dimethyl- trans-9-decalol （geosmin, GSM）. The mass spectrometry was operated in selective ion monitoring （SIM） mode. Three kinds of SPE columns and three eluting solvents were compared, the C 18 column was chosen as optimum SPE column, and methanol was chosen as the optimum eluting solvent. It was found that the method showed good linearity in the range of 1-200 ng.L^-1 and gave detection limits of 0.5 1.5 ng.L^-1 for individual compounds. Good recoveries （93.5%-108%） and relative standard deviations （1.58%-7.31%） were also obtained. Additionally, concentrations of these taste and odor compounds in Jinan＇s surface and drinking water were analyzed by applying this method, and the results showed that GSM and 2-MIB were the dominant taste and odor compounds in Jinan＇s raw water.

Observation and simulation of 2-methylisoborneol in the Qingcaosha Reservoir,Changjiang estuary

2-Methylisoborneol(2-MIB) is a cyanobacterial metabolite that is responsible for many taste and odor(T&O) complaints related to the aesthetics of drinking water and poses a problem for water authorities because it is recalcitrant during conventional water treatment. A numerical model was developed to simulate 2-MIB in the Qingcaosha Reservoir, an estuarine drinking water resource in the Changjiang estuary with known 2-MIB episodes. The objective of this study was to numerically simulate the generation and release processes of 2-MIB in the reservoir and to provide useful information for better management of drinking water resources experiencing T&O problems caused by cyanobacteria. The simulation results from 2009 to 2013 showed that the simulated 2-MIB concentrations corresponded well to the observational data. 2-MIB was released mainly during periods of low dissolved oxygen(DO) levels with an adequate potential sediment source. The temporal and spatial variations in nutrients, chlorophyll-a(Chl-a), Cyanophyta and 2-MIB were presented and analyzed during 2009 to 2013. According to the study results, high-concentration areas and peak levels of 2-MIB can be controlled by inhibiting algal growth and increasing oxygen levels in the water, which can be achieved via adequate water exchange and oxygen exposure in the reservoir, respectively.

Off-flavor compounds from decaying cyanobacterial blooms of Lake Taihu

The effect of cyanobacterial bloom decay on water quality and the complete degradation of cyanobacterial blooms in a short period were examined by an enclosure experiment in Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu,China.Water quality parameters as well as taste and odor compounds during the breakdown of cyanobacterial blooms were measured.Results showed that the decay of cyanobacterial blooms caused anoxic water conditions,decreased pH,and increased nutrient loading to the lake water.The highest concentrations of dimethyl sulfide （DMS）,dimethyl trisulfide （DMTS）,and β-cyclocitral were observed in the anoxic water,at 62331.8,12413.3,and 1374.9 ng/L,respectively.2-Methylisoborneol was dominant during the live growth phase of cyanobacterial blooms,whereas DMS and DMTS were dominant during the decomposition phase.Dissolved oxygen,pH,and chlorophyll a were negatively correlated with DMS,DMTS,and β-cyclocitral,whereas total phosphorus,total nitrogen,and ammonium （NH4＋-N） were positively correlated with DMS,DMTS,β-cyclocitral,and β-ionone.The experimental results suggested that preventing the anaerobic decomposition of cyanobacterial blooms is an important strategy against the recurrence of a malodor crisis in Lake Taihu.