Determination of alkylphenols and their short-chained ethoxylates in Polish river waters

A simple and robust analytical method for analysis of octyl- and nonylphenol as well as their short-chained ethoxylates in river water was proposed. Quantification of these analytes was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after isolation using solid phase extraction with polytetrafluoroethylene sorbent. The method allowed one to obtain about 80–100% recovery for octylphenol and its ethoxylates and 70–80% for nonylphenol and its ethoxylates. Also, there was no need for additional sample cleaning before chromatographic analysis. The limit of detection was 0.01 µg L−1 for octylphenol and its ethoxylates and 0.03 µg L−1 for nonylphenol and its ethoxylates. The proposed method was used for quantitation of octyl- and nonylphenol together with their short-chained ethoxylates. Nonylphenol, nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates were detected at concentrations ranging from 0.12 to 0.53 µg L−1. Octylphenol, octylphenol mono- and diethoxylates were detected in four out of eleven samples at concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 0.17 µg L−1. High concentrations of nonylphenol and its ethoxylates were found in the samples, despite the fact that their use in European countries was forbidden several years ago.