Use of a novel carbon sorbent for the adsorption of organic compounds from water

A porous carbon sorbent prepared by pyrolysis of cellulose in the presence of porogens was tested for the preconcentration of volatile organic pollutants (particularly hydrocarbons in the gasoline range) from water matrices by the purge-and-trap method. The trapped components were desorbed by carbon disulphide and measured by high-resolution capillary gas chromatography with on-column injection. The studied concentration range of individual hydrocarbons in water was 10 ppb-10 ppm. Drinking water, spring water and gasoline-contaminated water are given as examples of real sample analysis.