SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION FOR DETERMINING ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN HIGH IONIC-STRENGTH SOLUTIONS

Extraction techniques for semi-volatile organic compounds from caustic and high ionic strength solutions are presented. It is demonstrated t hat simple liquid-liquid extraction from a high ionic strength aqueous solution can allow inorganic ions to partition from the aqueous phase into the organic extraction phase. The ability of solid-phase extract ion (SPE) adsorbents to separate organic target compounds from a sampl e, without significant carry-over of inorganic material, is compared t o that of Liquid-liquid extraction. The most useful SPE media was a co mmercially available alumina substrate coated with a robust non-polar phase. Extractions df three compound classes, are presented: aromatic, alkyl hydrocarbons and alkyl phosphates. Extraction yields ranged fro m 42 to 97.6% (6-12% RSD). The range of yields for each chemical class was 75-79.9%, 14.3-68.3% and 91.1-97.6% for the aromatic, alkyl hydro carbons and alkyl phosphate compounds respectively.