DETERMINATION OF ALKYL, CHLORO AND MONONITROPHENOLS IN WATER BY SAMPLE-ACETYLATION AND AUTOMATIC ONLINE SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

On-line solid phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ha s been used for trace analysis of phenols in water samples at the low ng L-1 level. Phenols have been derivatized by in-sample acetylation p rior to an automatic SPE-GC-MS procedure. The method was validated wit h 26 alkyl, chloro and mononitrophenols including 4-nonylphenol and 17 -ethinyl-estradiol. Target analysis was performed by time-scheduled, s elected ion monitoring. The on-line SPE-GC approach resulted in low sa mple volume (typically 10 mL), good reproducibility, sensitivity and c onsiderable saving of reagents, material and manual work.