SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION OF PHENOLS USING MEMBRANES LOADED WITH MODIFIED POLYMERIC RESINS

Membranes impregnated with polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) or acetyl-PS-DVB resin beads were use for solid-phase extraction of ppm (w/w) concentrations of phenols from aqueous samples. A macro procedure uses 47 x 0.5 mm disks with 200-500 ml sample volumes at ca. 200 ml/min flow-rates. A smaller-scale procedure uses a thicker disk (3 mm) packed into a conventional solid-phase extraction column (7 mm I.D.). The retained phenols are eluted from the disk with organic solvent, and the individual phenols are determined quantitatively by GC or HPLC. Recoveries for 16 different phenols, including those included in the US Environmental Protection Agency list of priority pollutants, averaged 98% with a standard deviation of +/-2%.