On-line SPE-HPLC Method using Alumina Filtering to Selectively Extract Phenolic Compounds from Environmental Water

Abstract

A on-line SPE (solid phase extraction)-HPLC preconcentration method was developed for the determination of phenolic compounds at trace levels in environmental water sample. XAD-4 and Dowex 1-X8 were used as sorbent in the on-line SPE-HPLC method for the selective enrichment of nine phenolic compounds, which are included in the priority pollutants list of the US EPA. Also alumina prefiltering considerably reduced the amount of interfering peaks due to humic substances that could accumulated due to the preconcentration step and prevent quantification of polar phenolic compounds in environmental water samples. This method was used to determine the phenolic compounds in tap and river water and superiority to the US EPA 625 method in its enrichment factor, pretreatment time, recoveries, and detection limit. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.3 -0.9 μg/L in tap water sample.