Analysis of nitrophenols and other polar nitroaromatic compounds in ammunition wastewater by high-field proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and chromatographic methods

It is shown that by using high-field proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy it is possible, without prior separation, to analyse nitrophenols and other acidic nitroaromatic compounds in the "ph 2 extract" of ammunition wastewater. The 1H-NMR chemical shifts data of a variety of reference compounds are presented. Two groundwater samples from the former ammunition plant in Elsnig (Saxony) were analysed by 1H-NMR and also by chromatographic methods (GC/MS, HPLC). The results are compared and discussed.