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DETERMINATION OF PHENOLS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT MATRICES WITH THE USE OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH AN ENZYME ELECTRODE DETECTOR
Citation:
Rogers, K R., J Becker, J. Wang, AND F. Lu. DETERMINATION OF PHENOLS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY RELEVANT MATRICES WITH THE USE OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH AN ENZYME ELECTRODE DETECTOR. FIELD ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY 3(3):161-169, (1999).
Impact/Purpose:
The overall objective of this task is to develop scientifically sound sampling and bioanalytical approaches for screening and monitoring of hazardous wastes. These techniques are expected to provide the Agency with improved screening and field portable methods to characterize, reduce, and control risk to human health and the environment. Specific objectives will include development and characterization of the following concepts:
SPMDs for passive accumulation of TICs
Bioassays for toxic and genotoxic compounds
MIPs for volatile and semivolatile toxic organics
Rapid screening assays using the previously listed components.
Description:
A simple and rapid assay using HPLC with a tyrosinase-containing carbon paste electrode (Tyr-CPE) detector is demonstrated for the detection of phenol, p-cresol, p-methoxyphenol, and p-chlorophenol in environmental matrices. These compounds were measured in contaminated aqueous soil leachate samples or ace-tone/acetonitrile extracts of soil and sludge samples. The dynamic range for this assay was 2-30 ppm for phenol and p-cresol. In addition to analysis by the Tyr-CPE detector held at a reducing potential (-0.20 V), soil leachate and extracts were analyzed with the use of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) detector at oxidizing potentials (+1.0 V or +1.2 V). Compared to the CPE, the Tyr-CPE detector was very stable, showing a signal loss of only 28% over 24 h of continuous operation. In addition, the signal from the CPE degraded rapidly by 65% over 10 sequential injections, whereas the signal of the Tyr-CPE decreased by only 5% for the same number of sequential injections. Because of the minimal sample preparation for analysis of soil leachate samples, the herein-reported chromatographic system with biosensor detector could be further developed to complement portable tyrosinase enzyme electrode biosensors that detect total phenols in field settings.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Research and Development (ORD), partially funded the work involved in preparing this article. It has been subjected to the EPA's peer and administrative review and has been approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by EPA for use.