Polycyclic musk fragrances (PMFs) in wastewater and activated sludge: analytical protocol and application to a real case study

Two different analytical methods for the determination of polycyclic musk fragrances (PMFs) in wastewater and in activatedsludge were developed. PMFs in filtered water samples were determined by gas chromatography coupled with a triplequadrupolemass spectrometer in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. Activated sludge samples were extracted usingan ultrasonic bath and analysed using a GC-Ion trap. The developed methods respected a linear model (R2 > 0.995). Detectionlimits of selected compounds (Celestolide, Galaxolide, Galaxolidone, Phantolide and Tonalide) varied from 1.7 to 80 ng L-1 forwater and from 0.1 ng g-1 to 210 ng g-1 for activated sludge considering laboratory contamination for each PMF. Recoverystudies were performed on spiked water samples and, for sludges, on procedural blanks, showing recoveries above 70%for all theconsidered compounds, while recovery of the internal standard was always above limit of acceptance (30%). Proposed methodswere used to determine PMFs concentrations in wastewaters and activated sludges of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)located in Northern Italy. Concentrations in the range of ?g L-1 of Galaxolide and of its metabolite Galaxolidone were detectedeven in the WWTP effluent. Biotransformation of Galaxolide into Galaxolidone occurred during biological treatment with theconsequent release of this compound through WWTP effluents. In activated sludges, concentrations of all PMFs exceptGalaxolidone were one order of magnitude higher than wastewaters, as expected according to their physicochemical properties.Present wastewater treatment technologies were confirmed to not be efficient in removing PMFs from influent wastewaters sincewith only ? 30% of Celestolide and Tonalide were removed.