5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Researchers combined thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to screen firefighting wastewater for selected hazardous aromatic compounds.

• 2

  TLC separated compounds on a silica-coated plate before gold nanoparticle-enhanced SERS generated molecular fingerprints.

• 3

  Separating compounds before SERS helped reduce overlapping Raman bands and interference from other wastewater components.

• 4

  The method identified and quantified p-phenylenediamine, o-phenylenediamine, and 4-chlorophenol added to firefighting wastewater, with measured concentrations agreeing with amounts added.

• 5

  The study demonstrated the method for selected aromatic pollutants but did not establish its performance across the wider range of chemicals found after different fires.