Use of an automated on-line SPE-HPLC method to monitor caffeine and selected aniline and phenol compounds in aquatic systems of Macedonia-Thrace, Greece

Caffeine and selected aniline and phenol compounds have been monitored in t he river, lake, and ground water of Northern Greece (Macedonia-Thrace) from September 1999 to December 2000 by means of a fully automated on-line SPE- HPLC method. Among the target aniline and phenol compounds the most abundan t was 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, which was found to be. present in b oth surface and ground water samples. Caffeine was also very frequently pre sent in river and ground water, although its presence in lake water was rar e. Caffeine and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoI were also monitored by off -line SPE of water samples and GC-ion-trap MS analysis of extracts.