Evaluation of lead desorption from cement matrices.

Desorption of lead immobilized into cement and concrete matrices was evaluated in the pH range between 4 and 8 within a period of 2 h to 15 days. Lead-desorbed content in aqueous milieu was monitored by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, while matrices were directly analyzed by X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy or Rutherford Backscattering spectrometry. For low pH, higher Pb desorption was observed, about 5-7 times higher than that measured in the case of concrete matrices. The inclusion of polyvinyl alcohol as a matrix modifier was evaluated through a factorial design. Polymer inclusion yielded a reduction in Pb desorption, but its effect cannot be justified in terms of the ability of this polymer to chelate the metal. The resulting modified matrices did not present toxicity to Daphnia magna.

Rapid screening method for determination of PCDDs and PCDFs in fly ashes using GC-ion trap MS/MS based on cellular disruptor extraction.

Identification and quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in fly ashes from incinerator was carried out using capillary gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) with a low resolution ion trap mass spectrometer. Sample extraction was carried out in a cellular disruptor, in Soxhlet and in a conventional ultrasound for comparative purposes. Extraction with cellular disruptor was shown to be comparable to that obtained by the reference Soxhlet extraction, while low recoveries were observed with ultrasound. Hospital incinerator ashes, extracted by cellular disruptor and Soxhlet presented I-TEQ values for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans of 370 +/- 81 ng g(-1) and 533 +/- 55 ng g(-1), respectively, statistically equivalent according to the t-test.