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Testing Greener Solvents for Extraction of PCBs in Water Samples

Testing Greener Solvents for Extraction of PCBs in Water Samples
Contributors
Ashley Evanoski-Cole
Westfield State University
Learning Objets
Summary
In this upper-level undergraduate chemistry laboratory experiment, students will experience the challenge of finding a greener yet effective extraction solvent. Students will test a replacement solvent in a modified EPA method that traditionally uses dichloromethane (methylene chloride) to extract PCBs from water samples. Students will gain experience with common laboratory techniques and tools while performing a solvent extraction with a separatory funnel and concentration with a rotary evaporator. The extracted PCB sample will be analyzed using gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. Opportunities for further exploration to expand this experiment are included.
Keyword Tags
Undergraduate
Lab Experiment
Environmental Remediation
Extraction
Greener Solvents
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
gctlc_instructornotes_pcbextraction_revised.pdf
gctlc_studentexperiment_pcbextraction_revised.pdf
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/MMKD6619
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
• Test a greener solvent for the extraction of PCBs
• Explore the intersection of green chemistry and environmental analysis
• Perform separatory funnel extraction and rotary evaporation
• Use gas chromatography / mass spectrometry to quantify PCB concentrations in aqueous samples
Object Type
Laboratory experiment
Audience
Upper/Advanced Undergraduate
Common pedagogies covered
Hands-on learning
Problem-based learning
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Clean Water and Sanitation
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
- polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a known or suspected carcinogen and should be handled in the lowest concentration possible. PCB standard solution is flammable, toxic, and an irritant.
- 2-methyltetrahydrofuran is flammable, toxic, and an irritant.
- Hexane is flammable, toxic, and an irritant.
- Follow all safety precautions when using the rotary evaporator.
- Take all safety precautions when setting up and using compressed gas cylinders.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
Example data is included within the Instructors Notes document attached.
NGSS Standards, if applicable
N/A

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Submitted by

Ashley Evanoski-Cole
Reviewed by
Doug Raynie
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Time required (if applicable)
Two three-hour laboratory periods
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.