A rapid method for monitoring low levels of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in solutions

Abstract

A simple gas-liquid chromatographic method using a nickel-63 electron-capture detector for the determination of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in blood and aqueous solutions is described. The DEHP is extracted into n-hexane in a single-step extraction and is injected directly, using 5 per cent. SE-30 as liquid phase. The detection limit was 2 ng and a linear detector response was found in the range 2–20 ng. The method was used to monitor DEHP in blood and aqueous or lipophilic solutions.