DETERMINATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS AT THE SUB-PPB LEVEL IN TAP WATER USING DERIVATIZATION, SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION DETECTION

A method for the determination of eight chlorophenols in tap water is proposed, involving the direct acetylation of the chlorophenols in wat er samples with acetic anhydride in the presence of K2CO3, extraction of the acetylated derivatives by passage through a graphitized carbon cartridge, elution of the cartridge and measurement of the chloropheno l derivatives by means of a microwave-induced plasma atomic emission d etector coupled to a gas chromatograph. The quantitativeness of the de rivatization process and analyte losses through preconcentration and e vaporation were investigated. The limits of quantification obtained pe rmit the application of the proposed method to the analysis of natural and tap water samples.