LIPID-CONTAINING SEMIPERMEABLE-MEMBRANE DEVICES FOR MONITORING ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN WATER

A semipermeable membrane device (SPMD) is described for passive in-situ monitoring of organic contaminants in water. The device consists of a thin film of neutral lipid (molecular mass generally greater-than-or-equal-to 600 Da), such as triolein, enclosed in thin-walled layflat tubing made of low-density polyethylene or another nonporous polymer. Mathematical models are developed for the device and fitted to concentration data from 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl and phenanthrene flow-through exposures and dissipation experiments. Model estimates of the average concentrations of test chemicals in laboratory exposure water differed from the measured concentrations by <2-fold, indicating that it may be feasible to use the device to determine average concentrations of organic contaminants in natural waters.