Recovery of 4-nonylphenol and 4-nonylphenol ethoxylates from river sediments by pressurised liquid extraction

The pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) with methan ol (100 degreesC and 100 atm) from river sediments was compared with methan olic Soxhlet extraction, the standard method for the sediment analysis. The PLE method showed a precision (average RSD ranged from 6 to 33%) and an ac curacy (average recovery 85 and 87% for 4-NP and 4-NPE, respectively) compa rable to those of Soxhlet. The extraction was performed on river sediments and no organic carbon content influence was found. The comparative study pr esented in this paper demonstrates that PLE is an alternative suitable extr action method for 4-nonylphenol and 4-nonylphenol ethoxylate determination in sediments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.