Abstract
A study of the diffusion of organic additives from four polyethylene (PE) materials into drinking water was
conducted. Various structures of organic chemicals were identified in the water extracts by means of gas
chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. Most of them presented a basic common structure characterised by a
phenolic ring typically substituted with hindered alkyl groups in positions 2 and 6 on the aromatic ring. The structures
attributed to some of the chemicals have been confirmed using commercial or purposely synthesised standards.
Unprocessed granules of raw PE were also analysed, in order to investigate the origin of the chemicals detected in the
water samples. Consequently, the presence of some of the compounds was attributed to impurities or by-products of
typical phenolic additives used as antioxidants in pipeline production. Finally, the occurrence of the identified chemicals
was tested under field conditions, i.e. in water samples from newly installed pipelines in a distribution system. Here, the
presence of three of the compounds identified in vitro was detected. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Water Research |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 15 |
Pages (from-to) | 3675-3680 |
ISSN | 0043-1354 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- Pipes
- Polyethylene
- Organic additives
- Irganox
- Alkylphenols
- Drinking water
- GC–MS analysis