Comparative study of C-18- and styrene-divinylbenzene-based sorbents for the enrichment of phenols from water

The potential of solid-phase extraction with C-18- and styrene divinylbenze ne-based sorbents for the preconcentration of phenols from water samples ha s been evaluated for a variety of phenols of different polarities: phenol, o-, m- and p-cresol, 2-chlorophenol, and 4-chloro-3-methylphenol. The extra ction efficiencies have been calculated for different volumes of samples co ntaining the analytes at different concentration levels. The UV limits of d etection were of 1-5 ng/mL, for the method using Bond Elut C-18 cartridges and sample volumes of 25 mL, and 0.05-0.1 ng/mL (except for 4-chloro-3-meth ylphenol) for the method using the polymeric sorbent Bond Elut PPL and 1000 mL of the samples. Possible applications of each method are discussed in vi ew of the enrichment factors that can be reached.