DETERMINATION OF 2-ETHYL-1-HEXANOL AS CONTAMINANT IN DRINKING-WATER

An analytical procedure for the determination of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2- EH) in drinking water is presented. The method is based on volatile-co mpound stripping, adsorption on activated-charcoal-filled tubes, solve nt elution, identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, an d determination by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Bottled samples with undesirable organoleptic characteristics were an alzyed to determine a possible correlation with the presence of 2-EH. The presence of 2-EH at 2-10 mug/L was confirmed in several samples. T he presence of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (D2EHP) was also checked in a ll samples. This compound was always found at 2-30 mug/L. Hydrolysis o f D2EHP was carried out for 2 weeks to evaluate its possible contribut ion to water contamination by 2-EH. Tests did not show measurable amou nts of the alcohol. Nonetheless, the hydrolysis of phthalates in the w eakly acidic conditions of the examined waters would not justify the p resence of 2-EH at the observed levels, and so it is reasonable to hyp othesize a direct contamination from packaging materials containing 2- EH as residue from D2EHP synthesis.