Determination of di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate in environmental samples by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Abstract

Original PaperDetermination of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in environmental samples by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was determined in environmental samples such as water and soil. DEHP was extracted from water samples using SPE, whereas for soils pressurized liquid extraction was applied as extraction method, using hexane/ acetone (1:1, v/v) as extractant solvent. The use of HPLC coupled to MS provides the basis of the selective determination of DEHP in the analyzed samples. The extraction procedures were validated and good results were found. Recoveries were ranged from 86.0 to 99.8% with RSD lower than 18% and LODs were 0.02 mg/kg and 0.03 lg/L for soils and water, respectively. Finally, the optimized methods were applied to the analysis of real samples and DEHP was not found above the LOQ (0.05 mg/kg) in soil samples whereas it was detected in water samples at concentrations ranging between 0.19 to 0.88 lg/L.