Simplified determination of lipophilic metabolites of nonylphenol ethoxylates: method development and application in aqueous samples from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the present work we have developed an analytical methodology for the determination of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates (NP1EO and NP2EO) in water samples. The applicability of this methodology was proved by means of the analysis of environmentally relevant aqueous samples from Buenos Aires. This constitutes a starting point for a rigorous assessment of the incidence of NPnEO surfactants in Argentina, as only very few, qualitative or semi-quantitative data on the occurrence of these compounds in local systems were available up to this time. Enrichment of the analytes was carried out by solid-phase extraction on a C-18 sorbent, followed by elution with ethyl acetate. Normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography on an amino-silica column and fluorescence detection at excitation-emission wavelengths of 230-300 nm were employed for separation and quantification of the analytes. Confirmation of peak assignment in selected real samples was performed by off-line coupling HPLC with GC-MS analysis. A non-polar GC capillary column was used, and a characteristic peak pattern was obtained for the alkyl chain isomers of each ethoxylated homologue and NP. GC-MS analyses yielded in all cases purity levels higher than 80% for the HPLC collected fractions. The elevated concentrations found for the estrogenic metabolites of NPnEO are in accordance with an unrestricted use of this class of non-ionic surfactants in the country.
Babay
Paola A
PA
Gerencia de Química, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. General Paz 1499, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires B1650KNA, Argentina. babay@cnea.gov.ar
Romero Ale
Emiliano E
EE
Itria
Raúl F
RF
Becquart
Elena T
ET
Thiele
Björn
B
Batistoni
Daniel A
DA
D001118:Argentina; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C021754:terics