Isomer-Specific Determination of 4-Nonylphenols Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

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• 作者：Robert P. Eganhouse ; James Pontolillo ; Richard B. Gaines ; Glenn S. Frysinger ; Frdric L. P. Gabriel ; Hans-Peter E. Kohler ; Walter Giger ; Larry B. Barber
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2009
• 出版时间：December 15, 2009
• 年：2009
• 卷：43
• 期：24
• 页码：9306-9313
• 全文大小：301K
• 年卷期：v.43,no.24(December 15, 2009)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Technical nonylphenol (tNP), used for industrial production of nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants, is a complex mixture of C₃₋₁₀-phenols. The major components, 4-nonylphenols, are weak endocrine disruptors whose estrogenicities vary according to the structure of the branched nonyl group. Thus, accurate risk assessment requires isomer-specific determination of 4-NPs. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/ToFMS) was used to characterize tNP samples obtained from seven commercial suppliers. Under optimal chromatographic conditions, 153−204 alkylphenol peaks, 59−66 of which were identified as 4-NPs, were detected. The 4-NPs comprised 86−94% of tNP, with 2-NPs and decylphenols making up 2−9% and 2−5%, respectively. The tNP products were analyzed for eight synthetic 4-NP isomers, and results were compared with published data based on GC/MS analysis. Significant differences were found among the products and between two samples from a single supplier. The enhanced resolution of GC × GC coupled with fast mass spectral data acquisition by ToFMS facilitated identification of all major 4-NP isomers and a number of previously unrecognized components. Analysis of tNP altered by the bacterium, Sphingobium xenophagum Bayram, revealed several persistent 4-NPs whose structures and estrogenicities are presently unknown. The potential of this technology for isomer-specific determination of 4-NP isomers in environmental matrices is demonstrated using samples of wastewater-contaminated groundwater and municipal wastewater.