Determination of methyl tert.-butyl ether and tert.-butyl alcohol in seawater samples using purge-and-trap enrichment coupled to gas chromatography with atomic emission and mass spectrometric detection

A rapid and simple analytical method has been established for the determination of methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert.-butyl alcohol (TBA), in seawater. The method involves purge-and-trap enrichment followed by gas chromatographic (GC) determination. Two different detection systems have been compared: atomic emission detection (AED) and MS (selected ion monitoring mode). Validation parameters and possible matrix effects have been evaluated. The linearity and analytical precision was good with both methods, but limits of detection reached by AED (10 μg l−1) were not low enough to evaluate current environmental concentrations. GC–MS detection presented much better sensitivity [limits of detection (LODs) of 0.04 μg l−1 for MTBE and 0.09 μg l−1 for TBA] and selectivity, providing a more reliable determination. The analysis of samples collected from various marinas in the south of Spain (Almerı́a and Málaga) showed, in all cases, detectable concentrations of MTBE that ranged from below LOD to 1842 μg l−1, depending on the sampling point and time. TBA was also detected in some cases, with concentration levels that ranged from 400 to 600 μg l−1. These preliminary results should be followed by monitoring programs in coastal waters, in order to establish real levels of presence of MTBE in our coasts and its possible effect on the marine environment.