Determination of phenols in lake and ground water samples by stir bar sorptive extraction–thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple and inexpensive method for sorptive extraction of phenols from water samples is presented. A polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) stir bar (Twister) is used as an extraction medium for derivatized phenols, which is thermally desorbed and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Its performance was illustrated and evaluated for the enrichment of μg l−1 to ng l−1 of phenol and selected chlorophenols in water samples. The method showed good linearity, recoveries and blank levels, as well as advantages such as sensitivity, simplicity, low cost and high feasibility, being successfully applied for the analysis of phenolic compounds in natural water samples.