Determination of chlorophenols at the sub-ppb level in tap water using derivatization, solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with plasma atomic emission detection

A method for the determination of eight chlorophenols in tap water is proposed, involving the direct acetylation of the chlorophenols in water samples with acetic anhydride in the presence of K2CO3, extraction of the acetylated derivatives by passage through a graphitized carbon cartridge, elution of the cartridge and measurement of the chlorophenol derivatives by means of a microwave-induced plasma atomic emission detector coupled to a gas chromatograph. The quantitativeness of the derivatization process and analyte losses through preconcentration and evaporation were investigated. The limits of quantification obtained permit the application of the proposed method to the analysis of natural and tap water samples.