Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/L009870/1
Development and application of diffusive passive water samplers for water quality standards compliance of organic pollutants
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr A Sweetman, Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre
- Grant held at:
- Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Ensuring good surface water quality is important for aquatic eco-systems and the protection of human health. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is an ambitious piece of European environmental legislation which aims to improve and protect the aquatic environment on a catchment scale. An important part of the WFD is the identification of priority substances that are present in surface waters and to ensure that environmental quality standards (EQSs) are set and complied for rivers, lakes and coastal waters. So far there are 33 substances on this list with a further 15 proposed substances. The reliable sampling and analysis of these substances, many of which are present at trace levels, is a challenge, particularly whilst trying to keep costs to a minimum. Lancaster University has developed a passive sampling technique that can provide a time integrated assessment of truly dissolved concentrations for a wide range of substances using a robust, reliable and cost-effective unit. Passive water sampling has several advantages over grab sampling and active methods; it provides time-integrated data, can save on time and cost compared to active methods, and yield high spatial resolution data through co-deployment of simple, reproducible units. The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique provides an in-situ means of quantitatively measuring labile species in aquatic systems without field calibration. This approach can then be used as an assessment of compliance with WFD environmental quality standards, which are defined either as a maximum concentration of a substance allowed in a river, lake or in coastal water, or as an annual average. The unique construction of the DGT sampler can be used to determine trace levels of a wide range of heavy metals as well as an expanding list of organic chemicals. A range of samplers can be constructed using specific combinations of diffusive uptake (sampling) layers and binding gels (storage). By selecting suitable polymers and carrying out a range of laboratory uptake studies, it is possible to manufacture a series of samplers that can be tailored to quantify a range of substances that could be priority substances listed by the WFD or others that have global interest. This studentship would form a critical step in ensuring that the development of these samplers and could fulfil the requirements of this widespread application. The samplers have been calibrated and tested for a number of WFD priority substances, but to ensure the widest coverage of substances this list needs to be expanded and the necessary laboratory performance testing would be required. As a result, variants of the DGT sampler would be developed, laboratory calibrated and field tested, each focusing on a sub-set of priority pollutants. The potential widespread application of DGT samplers within the WFD provides an incentive for water quality testing laboratories to be associated with their development and application. This studentship will be carried out in collaboration with TelLab, an accredited environmental analytical laboratory. The student will receive very experienced supervision from LEC and TelLab staff along with excellent training facilities and access to world-class analytical facilities at both organisations. This includes LC TripleQuad Mass Spectrometry required for ultra-trace quantification of polar contaminants in water samples. The studentship would have a strong impact aspect because of the requirement under the WFD to demonstrate compliance with environmental quality standards for a wide range of priority substances. This is currently very difficult to achieve using current grab sampling techniques which does not provide a true measure of dissolved concentrations. As a measure of the potential impact of this studentship, TelLab will contribute financially CASE award and host the student in their laboratories support the development of the sampler and the necessary analytical techniques.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/L009870/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £83,515
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £16,226 | £56,292 | £11,000 |
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