ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 15.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 393 15.2 Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 396
15.2.1 General................................................................................................................ 396 15.2.1.1 Preservation ...................................................................................... 396 15.2.1.2 Contamination.................................................................................. 396
15.2.2 Atmospheric Precipitation Including Rain and Snow................................ 396 15.2.2.1 Background....................................................................................... 396 15.2.2.2 Rain .................................................................................................... 397 15.2.2.3 Ice ....................................................................................................... 398
15.2.3 Drinking Water ................................................................................................. 399 15.2.3.1 Background....................................................................................... 399 15.2.3.2 Analysis ............................................................................................. 399
15.2.4 Wastewater ........................................................................................................ 401 15.2.4.1 Background....................................................................................... 401 15.2.4.2 Sampling............................................................................................ 401 15.2.4.3 Analysis ............................................................................................. 401
15.2.5 Other Aqueous Matrices.................................................................................. 402 15.2.5.1 Groundwater .................................................................................... 402 15.2.5.2 Seawater ............................................................................................ 403 15.2.5.3 Landfill Leachates............................................................................ 403 15.2.5.4 Other .................................................................................................. 404
15.3 Outlook............................................................................................................................. 404 References ................................................................................................................................... 404
Organic acids are hydrocarbons that are characterized by their carboxylate function (COOH). Their hydrocarbon structure can vary considerably from aliphatic to aromatic, saturated to unsaturated, and straight chain to branched. Other variations in structure include varying chain lengths, multiple carboxylate groups (e.g., di-or tricarboxylic acids), and presence of hydroxyl-and ketofunctions. Organic acids with different molecular structures obviously differ in their physical and chemical properties.
