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Selecting Surrogates for an Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Analytical Method in Sewage and Soil Matrices
Citation:
Zintek, L., C. Acheson, AND M. Mills. Selecting Surrogates for an Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Analytical Method in Sewage and Soil Matrices. Presented at SETAC North America 33rd Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, November 11 - 15, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Methods have been developed for qualitative and quantitative determination of alkylphenols, APEs, and Bisphenol A in sewage sludges, biosolids, and soils. One important quality control measure is surrogate recovery. Ideally, recoveries of target analytes and surrogates are strongly correlated. For these analytes, selecting surrogates is challenging due to limited off the shelf options and the costs of custom synthesis. Observed recoveries for commonly selected surrogates such as n-nonylphenol were not representative of many nonylphenol analytes particularly in important matrices such as sewage sludges and biosolids. Recoveries for a variety of surrogates and matrices will be discussed.
Description:
Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are nonionic surfactants commonly used in industrial detergents. These products contain complex mixtures of branched and linear chains. APEs and their degradation products, alkylphenols, are highly toxic to aquatic organisms, potentially estrogenic, persistent in many environments, and commonly found in wastewater matrices. More information is needed to characterize environmental concentrations and the fate of these compounds. Methods have been developed for qualitative and quantitative determination of alkylphenols, APEs, and Bisphenol A in sewage sludges, biosolids, and soils. These methods utilize SPE extraction followed by UPLC/MS/MS analysis to achieve quantitation levels less than ng/kg. Quality control measures are an important part of demonstrating method performance during development and in routine measurements. One important quality control measure is surrogate recovery. Ideally, recoveries of target analytes and surrogates are strongly correlated. For these analytes, selecting surrogates is challenging due to limited off the shelf options and the costs of custom synthesis. Observed recoveries for commonly selected surrogates such as n-nonylphenol were not representative of many nonylphenol analytes particularly in important matrices such as sewage sludges and biosolids. Recoveries for a variety of surrogates and matrices will be discussed.
