title: Determination and distribution characteristics of degradation products of nonylphenol polyethoxylates in the rivers of Taiwan.
abstract: Concentrations of degradation products of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) were analyzed in river water samples in order to determine the distribution characteristic of these alkylphenolic compounds in 18 major rivers of Taiwan. The degradation products of NPEOs were detected in all river samples, with the dicarboxylates alkylphenolic degradation products (CAPEC) being detected most frequently and at the highest concentrations. Concentrations of NP and NP1EO in rivers ranged from n.d. to 5.1 microg l(-1) and n.d. to 0.5 microg l(-1), respectively. The total concentrations of shortened carboxylates (i.e., NP1EC+NP2EC+NP3EC) and dicarboxylates alkylphenolic degradation products (CAP1EC+CAP2EC) ranged from n.d. to 63.6 microg l(-1) and n.d. to 94.6 microg l(-1), respectively. Concentrations of NP2EC, NP3EC and all CAPEC residues were determined semi-quantitatively by comparing with the internal standard. Significantly higher concentrations of CAPEC residues were detected in the river waters as compared to those of NP, NP1EO and NPEC degradation products and the average proportions of these compounds in the samples of the rivers were as follows: NP+NP1EO was 5+/-2.5%, total NPEC was 25+/-12%, and total CAPEC was 70+/-12%. The high concentration ratios of CAPEC/NPEC illustrate that aerobic biodegradation plays a main route in the fate of NPEO in the rivers of Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Central University, Chung-Li 320, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chien-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wang-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D013624:Taiwan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C021754:terics