Gas chromatographic mass spectrometric determination of 4-nonylphenols and4-tert-octylphenol in biological samples

A simple and rapid method is described for the GC-MS determination of 4-non ylphenols (NOs) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OC) in biological samples. The NOs and OC in the sample are extracted with acetonitrile and the lipid in the s ample extract is eliminated by partitioning between hexane and acetonitrile . After Florisil PR column clean-up, the sample extract is analyzed by GC-M S in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Average recoveries in pale chu b (fish) and corbicula (shellfish) are 86.0 and 93.4% for NOs, and 95.8 and 96.4% for OC, respectively, spiked at the levels of 1.0 mu g of NOs and 0. 1 mu g of OC per 5 g of fish and shellfish samples. The detection limits ar e 20 ng/g for NOs and 2 ng/g for OC. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.