Sains Malaysiana 40(11)(2011): 1255–1261

Chlorinated and Nonchlorinated-Volatile Organic Compounds (Vocs) in

Drinking Water of Peninsular Malaysia

(Sebatian Organik Meruap Terklorin dan Tidak Terklorin (VOCs) dalam Air Minum

Semenanjung Malaysia)

Md. Pauzi Abdullah* & Soh Shiau Chian

School of Chemical Sciences & Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

43600 UKM  Bangi, Selangor D.E.Malaysia

Received: 3 June 2010/ Accepted: 3 March 2011

ABSTRACT

A survey undertaken in Peninsular Malaysia has shown that volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both chlorinated and non-chlorinated, are present in selected drinking water samples. In this study, analyses of VOCs were performed by means of solid phase microextraction (SPME) with a 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fibre followed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry detector (GC-MSD). Samples from different points of the distribution system networks were taken and analysed for 54 VOCs of different chemical families. The results of the study indicated that chloroform constituted the major portion of the VOCs in all samples analysed. In addition to trihalomethanes (THMs), other abundant compounds detected were cis and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,2-dibromoethane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. However, the measured concentrations did not exceed the National Guideline for Drinking Water Quality 2000 in any case. No clear relationship between the status of development of a state in Malaysia to the levels and types of VOCs detected in its drinking water was noted. Nevertheless, the finding of anthropogenic chemicals, even at low concentrations, gave credibility to the viewpoint that improper development and disposal practices threatened the purity of the drinking water.

Keywords: Drinking water; solid phase microextraction; volatile organic compound

ABSTRAK

Satu tinjauan yang dilakukan di Semenanjung Malaysia telah menunjukkan kehadiran kedua-dua sebatian organik meruap (VOCs) yang terklorin atau yang tidak terklorin di dalam air minum terpilih. Dalam kajian ini VOCs telah dianalisis melalui teknik pengekstrakan mikro fasa pepejal (SPME) menggunakan gentian polidimetil siloksana (PDMS) 100 μm dan diikuti oleh analisis dengan kromatografi gas – spektometer jisim (GC-MSD). Sampel dari pelbagai titik di sepanjang sistem agihan diambil dan dianalisis kehadiran 54 jenis VOCs daripada pelbagai kumpulan. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahawa kloroform merupakan bahagian utama dalam VOCs pada semua sampel yang dianalisis. Selain daripada trihalometana (THMs), sebatian lain yang banyak dikesan ialah sis dan trans-1,2-dikloroetilena, trikloroetilena, 1,2-dibromoetana, benzena, toluena, etilbenzena,klorobenzena, 1,4-diklorobenzena dan 1,2-diklorobenzena. Walau bagaimanapun, aras semua sebatian tersebut masih tidak melangkaui Garis Panduan Kualiti Air Minum Kebangsaan 2000. Tidak terdapat hubungan yang jelas di antara status pembangunan sesuatu negeri di Malaysia dengan kehadiran sesuatu sebatian VOCs dalam air minum. Sungguhpun demikian penemuan kehadiran sebatian antropogenik di dalam sumber air minum jelas menunjukkan bahawa amalan yang tidak baik dalam penggunaan dan pelupusan bahan kimia akan mengancam ketulenan sumber air minum.

Kata kunci: Air minum; pengekstrakan mikro fasa pepejal; sebatian organik meruap

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