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Determination of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in wastewater using MEKC
Author(s) -
Núñez Laura,
Wiedmer Susanne K.,
Parshintsev Jevgeni,
Hartonen Kari,
Riekkola MarjaLiisa,
Tadeo José L.,
Turiel Esther
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of separation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1615-9314
pISSN - 1615-9306
DOI - 10.1002/jssc.200900114
Subject(s) - nonylphenol , chromatography , chemistry , micellar electrokinetic chromatography , wastewater , alkylphenol , sample preparation , extraction (chemistry) , capillary electrophoresis , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , alkyl , engineering , waste management
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO x ) are surfactants which are used worldwide and can be transformed in the environment by microorganisms to form nonylphenol (NP). Analysis of these compounds was carried out with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). Different parameters such as background electrolyte (BGE) solution, pH, type of surfactant, and sample stacking were optimized. The use of CHES (20 mM, pH 9.1) in combination with 50 mM sodium cholate as a surfactant as BGE solution, together with sample stacking using 50 mM NaCl in the sample and an injection time of 20 s, provided the best separation of the compounds studied. The method was applied to the determination of target analytes in two types of sludge water coming from two steps of a wastewater treatment plant. Liquid–liquid extraction was carried out using toluene as solvent, resulting in recoveries around 100% for all studied analytes. The presence of NPEO x was observed in the first step of the sludge water treatment, based on migration time and UV spectra. Identification was confirmed using tandem MS. LOQs of the studied compounds were in the range of 12.7 to 30.8 ng/mL, which is satisfactory for the analysis of real wastewater samples.