Shimadzu Journal Vol 03 - Environmental Analysis

Significance of the Topic

Environmental analysis is critical for assessing and mitigating pollution risks from diverse sources such as private wells, industrial effluents and unconventional oil and gas operations. Reliable detection and monitoring of contaminants—including metals, volatile organics, persistent organic pollutants and emerging chemicals—underpins public health protection, ecosystem conservation and regulatory compliance.

Objectives and Overview of the Study

This issue of Shimadzu Journal highlights collaborative research and advanced analytical methods for environmental monitoring, including:

• Innovative multi‐instrument approaches to groundwater quality assessment with Professor Kevin A. Schug (UT Arlington).
• Biodiversity‐based remediation technologies using plants and microorganisms with Professor Michihiko Ike (Osaka University).
• Capacity‐building in Asia for monitoring perfluorinated compounds under the UNU‐Shimadzu partnership.
• Selected application notes demonstrating Shimadzu instrument capabilities in environmental and materials analysis.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Researchers utilized a suite of Shimadzu instruments to achieve comprehensive contaminant profiling:

• GC‐MS (QP2010 Ultra) and HS‐GC‐FID (GC‐2010 Plus with AOC‐5000) for volatile and semi‐volatile organics.
• TOC/TN analyzer (TOC‐L with TNM‐L module) for organic carbon and nitrogen measurement.
• Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICPE‐9000) for multi‐element metal analysis.
• Multiparameter probes for field measurements (pH, conductivity, redox potential, dissolved oxygen).
• LC‐MS/MS (Nexera XR with LCMS‐8040) for trace perfluorinated compounds in water.
• Additional techniques: restricted‐access media trap‐and‐elute LC, cryogenically modulated GC×GC, imaging mass microscopy.

Main Results and Discussion

• Groundwater surveys in North Texas (>800 samples) revealed indirect impacts of hydraulic fracturing on water quality, demonstrating strong correlations between conductivity and total dissolved metals.
• Ultra‐sensitive methods (parts‐per‐trillion) for trace estrogens in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were developed using on‐line restricted‐access media and triple quadrupole MS/MS.
• Biodiversity‐based remediation: floating aquatic plants concentrate pollutant‐degrading microorganisms at their root zone, enabling low‐energy detoxification and potential metal recovery (e.g., cadmium, selenium).
• UNU‐Shimadzu partnership monitored PFOS and PFOA across Asia, training ten national coordinators and installing LC‐MS/MS systems to establish baseline data for the Stockholm Convention’s Global Monitoring Plan.

Contributions and Practical Applications of the Method

• Integration of complementary techniques ensures comprehensive validation and reduces false positives in environmental water analysis.
• Ultra‐sensitive LC‐MS/MS and GC×GC‐MS/MS methods enable routine detection of trace pollutants without extensive sample preparation.
• Biodiversity‐inspired systems offer sustainable, low‐cost wastewater treatment and resource recovery pathways for critical metals.
• Capacity building in Asia enhances regional capability for POPs monitoring and informs evidence‐based policy under international treaties.

Future Trends and Applications

• Predictive environmental monitoring using big data analytics and machine learning to forecast pollutant trends.
• Expansion of on‐line, automated sample preparation coupled with multi‐dimensional chromatography for high‐throughput screening.
• Development of portable, field‐deployable mass spectrometry for real‐time water quality assessment.
• Integration of remediation and resource recovery, converting waste streams into value‐added materials.
• Greater global collaboration and standardization in contaminant monitoring protocols.

Conclusion

Advances in multi‐instrument analytical workflows, coupled with collaborative research and capacity‐building initiatives, are strengthening our ability to detect, understand and mitigate environmental contaminants. Shimadzu’s innovative instrumentation plays a pivotal role in enabling comprehensive monitoring, sustainable remediation strategies and evidence‐driven policy implementation worldwide.

Reference

• US EPA. Drinking Water Contaminants. http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/ (accessed October 2014).
• US EPA. Private Drinking Water Wells. http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/ (accessed October 2014).
• Fontenot B.E. et al. Water Quality Near Natural Gas Extraction Sites in the Barnett Shale. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 10032–10040.
• Almasri M.N.; Kaluarachchi J.J. Modeling Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater. J. Hydrol. 2007, 343, 211–229.
• Boyer E.W. et al. Impacts of Shale Gas Wastewater Disposal on Water Quality. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 11849–11857.