Suitability of ultrasound-assisted extraction for chromatographic determination of selected flame retardants used in styrenic polymers

The ultrasonic induced degradation behaviour of flame retardants in several organic solvents and in water was studied for sample preparation purposes. Comparative studies were performed using p-nitrophenol as a reference for ultrasonic degradation. An ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic bath were applied. Degradation was only detected in the treatment of aqueous solutions of p-nitrophenol and tetrabromobisphenol A. In contrast, no degradation could be observed on treating such solutions in aliphatic solvents. Decomposition of the aromatic solvent toluene was only found on treatment with an ultrasonic probe. As a consequence, a rapid and reliable ultrasound-assisted sample preparation procedure for the chromatographic determination of flame retardants developed before could be confirmed.