Identification of organic compounds in a mutagenic extract of a surface drinking water by a computerized gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system (GC/MS/COM)

The diethyl ether extract of the reverse osmosis concentrate of drinking water which was found to be mutagenic, was analysed. To obtain clearly resolved peaks on a gas chromatogram of individual organic compounds, present in trace amounts, the extract was partitioned into acid, methylated acid and base/neutral fractions and the latter fraction was further partitioned on a silica gel microcolumn by elution with solvents of different polarities. The fractions were analysed on a computerized GC/MS system, equipped with glass capillary columns. Some 460 organic compounds were identified, including 41 polynuclear aromatic compounds and 15 PCB.