Application of three phase hollow fiber based liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) for the simultaneous HPLC determination of phenol substituting compounds (alkyl-, chloro- and nitrophenols)

This work proposes for the first time the use of a three phase hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) procedure for the simultaneous extraction, and the later HPLC determination, of some phenol substituting compounds (alkyl-, chloro- and nitrophenols) that are considered as highly toxic compounds and/or endocrine disrupting ones. The substances studied include four chlorophenols (CPs): 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), three nitrophenols (NPs): 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), 2,5-dinitrophenol (2,5-DNP) and 2,6-dinitriphenol (2,6-DNP) and two alkylphenols (APs): tert butylphenol (TBP) and sec butylphenol (SBP). The extraction was carried out through a dihexyl ether liquid membrane supported on an Accurel® Q3/2 polypropylene hollow fiber. Optimum pH for donor and acceptor phases and extraction time were established. The enrichment (preconcentration) factors obtained were between 30 and 700 that allows detection limits between 140 and 290 pg mL−1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the compounds in environmental water samples, including urban wastewaters.