Abstract
In situ detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in aqueous environments is imperative for ensuring the quality and safety of water supplies, yet it remains a challenging analytical task. We present a high-sensitivity method for in situ analysis of multicomponent VOCs at low concentrations based on the use of infrared attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR) spectroscopy. This protocol uses a unique ATR waveguide, which comprises a planar silver halide (AgClxBr1−x) fiber with cylindrical extensions at both ends to increase the number of internal reflections, and a polymer coating that traps VOCs and excludes water molecules. Depending on the type of VOC and measurement scenario, IR spectra with specific frequency windows, scan times and spectral resolutions are obtained, from which concentration information is derived. This protocol allows simultaneous detection of multiple VOCs at concentrations around 10 p.p.b., and it enables accurate quantification via a single measurement within 5 min without the need for sample collection or sample pretreatment. This IR-ATR sensor technology will be useful for other applications; we have included a procedure for the analysis of protein conformation changes in Supplementary Methods as an example.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme (21261160489), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team at the University of Science and Technology of China for partial support of this study. We also acknowledge The Natural Science Foundation of China (21505074), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20140781), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.
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R.L., W.-W.L., B.M. and H.Q.Y. designed the experiments; R.L. conducted the experiments; A.K. and Y.R. fabricated and provided the fiber; R.L. and G.-P.S. conducted the data processing; R.L., W.W.L., B.M. and H.-Q.Y. wrote and edited the manuscript. All authors contributed to discussion on the results and implications of the manuscript.
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Supplementary Figure 6 Calibration profiles of low-concentration VOC mixtures (10 to 70 ppb).
(a) Four monoaromatic hydrocarbons (toluene (TL), o-xylene (OX), m-xylene (MX), and p-xylene (PX), benzene is not shown for low correlation coefficient), and (b) six chlorinated hydrocarbons (monochlorobenzene (MCB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (m-DCB), chloroform (CF), trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PCE)).
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Supplementary Figures 1–6 and Supplementary Methods (PDF 824 kb)
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Lu, R., Li, WW., Mizaikoff, B. et al. High-sensitivity infrared attenuated total reflectance sensors for in situ multicomponent detection of volatile organic compounds in water. Nat Protoc 11, 377–386 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2016.013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2016.013
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