title: A sensitive and robust method for the determination of alkylphenol polyethoxylates and their carboxylic acids and their transformation in a trickling filter wastewater treatment plant.
abstract: This paper presents a method for the determination of alkylphenols, alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEO) and alkylphenol ethoxycarboxylates (APEC) in the aqueous and particulate phase of wastewater samples. Quantification was achieved by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The sensitivity of the method is demonstrated by low detection limits, in the dissolved phase 1.2-9.6ngl(-1) for alkylphenol, AP1-3EO and APEC and 0.1-4.1ngl(-1) for longer chain alkylphenol polyethoxylates. The method detection limit for particulate phase samples ranged from 6 to 60ngg(-1) for AP, AP1-3EO and APEC; with the longer chain APEO being from 0.5 to 20ngg(-1). Matrix effects were noted in complex matrix rich samples. There was a distinct change in the distribution of alkylphenol ethoxylates during biological treatment of the wastewater, with the major biotransformation products observed being carboxylated derivatives at concentrations of up to 1768ngl(-1). Shorter chain APEO were present in higher proportions in the suspended solids, due to their higher affinity to particulate matter compared to the long-chain oligomers.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine and Toxicology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London W12 ONN, UK.
authors.forename: Yoong K K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Tze Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Boobis
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cartmell
authors.forename: Simon J T
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pollard
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Scrimshaw
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lester
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005374:Filtration; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical