CHARACTERIZATION OF PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS IN LANDFILL LEACHATE OF URBAN SOLID-WASTE BY HPLC WITH AN ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTOR

In this paper a method for the characterization of phenolic compounds in landfill leachate of urban solid waste is proposed. The method is b ased on reverse-phase high-performance Liquid chromatography with grad ient elution and electrochemical detection. Selective solid-phase extr action (SPE), using a partially keto-derivatizated poly(styrene-divyni lbenzene) copolymer, is used for the preconcentration of phenols. The preconcentration improves the method, allowing the determination of ph enols at ppb levels. In fact, application of the method allows the ide ntification of certain phenols, such as 4-nitrophenol, 4-methylphenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol and 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, with concentrations in the range 7.0-280 mu g l(-1).