Analytical procedures to classify organic pollutants in natural waters, sediments, and benthic organisms

Procedures are described to extract, fractionate and analyze organic pollutants in environmental samples. The methods are based on organic solvent extraction to isolate the pollutants, liquid-solid adsorption chromatography to separate the various pollutants into four fractions, and analyses of the fractions using glass capillary gas-chromatography. Based on a number of considerations, the procedures were found suitable for the analyses of trace level organic pollutants in a variety of sample types. The data from these studies has provided important information on the biogeochemistry of organic pollutants in the aquatic environment.