AN ION-INTERACTION RP-HPLC-METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE 11 EPAPRIORITY POLLUTANT PHENOLS

An ion-interaction RP-HPLC method is presented for the simultaneous se paration and determination of the eleven EPA priority pollutant phenol s. The method is based on the capability of phenolic compounds to form ion-pairs with alkylammonium ions. The optimised mobile phase is a wa ter/acetonitrile solution of octylammonium o-phosphate at pH 8. With U V detection at 285 nm, determination limits lower than 30 mu g l(-1) a re achieved, without preconcentration. By the use of statistical tests , the accuracy and the reproducibility of the method is tested (confid ence level 95%) with respect to EPA certified standard solution and th e method is validated through intercalibration with a GC-MS method. Th e statistical difference between the methods is evaluated by parametri c (F-test, paired t-test, t-test for multiple samples) and non paramet ric tests (Mann-Whitney, U-test and Wilcoxon test) and the results are discussed. Accuracy, reproducibility and detection limit of the W-HPL C method resulted to be more advantageous with respect to gas-chromato graphic methods. Examples of preconcentration and application to the a nalysis of river water are presented.