Quantitative analysis of trace levels of geosmin and MIB in source and drinking water using headspace SPME

Two volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for the majority of taste and odour events in drinking water are geosmin (trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and MIB (2-methylisoborneol). These VOCs have odour threshold concentrations at ng l−1 levels. Quantitative analysis of such trace concentration levels has required the use of technically complex and time-consuming analytical methods. In this study, a simple headspace solid phase microextraction procedure (HSPME) was developed and applied successfully to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of source water and drinking water samples. Concentrations of geosmin and MIB measured in these samples ranged from 1 to 1000 ng l−1. The HSPME method achieved typical precision of 5–12% in a wide variety of sample matrices. Materials required were low cost and the protocol allowed sample turnover of 60–75 min per sample. HSPME proved to be a very practical technology for the analysis of geosmin, MIB and other potent volatile compounds in surface waters.