Guidelines for alkylphenols estimation as alkylphenol polyethoxylates pollution indicator in wastewater treatment plant effluents

Abstract

A solid-phase microextraction coupled with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method has been developed for the estimation of technical nonylphenol in the presence of other endocrine disruptors, belonging to different chemical families. The profile of the technical nonylphenol found in real samples was tested, and, given that it was similar to that provided for the standard used, reliable results were obtainable. Endocrine disruptors such as 4-n-nonylphenol, bisphenol A and 4-tert-octylphenol were simultaneously analysed. The best conditions achieved enabled the analysis of all analytes using a sample volume of 15 mL or even only 300 μL. Using such a low sample volume reduced the filtration process, which, in turn, significantly reduced the analysis time. The limits of detection achieved ranged between 0.006 and 0.5 μg L⁻¹. Wastewater samples collected in three sampling campaigns (2006, 2007 and 2008) revealed an important presence of 4-tert-octylphenol and technical nonylphenol in several sampling points especially during the summer season. This finding is indicative of alkylphenol polyethoxylates pollution.