Determination of (4-methylcyclohexyl)methanol isomers by heated purge-and-trap GC/MS in water samples from the 2014 Elk River, West Virginia, chemical spill. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Foreman, William T.; Rose, Donna L.; Chambers, Douglas B.; Crain, Angela S.; Murtagh, Lucinda K.; Thakellapalli, Haresh; Wang, Kung K.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 131(2015)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Methylcychlohexane methanol -- Chemical spill -- Contamination -- Water -- Isomer -- GC/MS; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.11.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Highlights: Individual 4-MCHM isomers determined by heated purge-and-trap GC/MS. Sub microgram-per-liter detection levels achieved. cis - and trans -4-MCHM plus another spill compound found in river and tap waters. Portion of plume observed in Ohio River 630 km downriver from spill. 4-MCHM detected in tap water 46 d after spill began. Abstract: A heated purge-and-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method was used to determine the cis - and trans -isomers of (4-methylcyclohexyl)methanol (4-MCHM), the reported major component of the Crude MCHM/Dowanol™ PPh glycol ether material spilled into the Elk River upriver from Charleston, West Virginia, on January 9, 2014. The trans -isomer eluted first and method detection limits were 0.16-μg L −1 trans -, 0.28-μg L −1 cis -, and 0.4-μg L −1 Total (total response of isomers) 4-MCHM. Estimated concentrations in the spill source material were 491-g L −1 trans - and 277-g L −1 cis -4-MCHM, the sum constituting 84% of the source material assuming its density equaled 4-MCHM. Elk River samples collected ⩽ 3.2 km downriver from the spill on January 15 had low (⩽2.9 μg L −1 Total) 4-MCHM concentrations, whereas the isomers were not detected in samples collected 2 d earlier at the same sites. Similar 4-MCHM concentrations (range 4.2–5.5 μg L −1 Total) occurred for samples of the Ohio River at Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, ∼630 km downriver from the spill. Total 4-MCHM concentrations in Charleston, WV, office tap water decreased from 129 μg L −1 on January 27 to 2.2 μg L −1 on February 3, but remained detectable in tap samples through final collection on February 25 indicating some persistence of 4-MCHM within the water distribution system. One isomer of methyl 4-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate was detected in all Ohio River and tap water samples, and both isomers were detected in the source material spilled.