Application of the triolein-embedded cellulose acetate membrane passive sampler for monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water.

Triolein-embedded cellulose acetate membrane (TECAM) can be used as a passive sampler to measure hydrophobic organic contaminants in water. Uptake constant rates (k u ) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by TECAM sampling were measured under different hydrodynamic conditions. The measured k u values were modeled to enable the quantification of time weighed average (TWA) concentrations of PAHs in the field. An empirical relationship that enables the calculation of in situ k u values of chemicals using performance reference compounds (PRCs) was derived and its application was demonstrated in a field study. The results showed that freely dissolved concentrations of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) can be accurately measured in the field using TECAM method based on empirical uptake models calibrated with PRCs.