Application of magnetic sorbents modified with molecular imprinted polymers for screening of phenolic xenoestrogens

Abstract

A new method for the determining phenolic xenoestrogens, chemicals that destroy the endocrine system (EDC), i.e., 4-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NLP) and bisphenol A (BPA), in sediments and river waters with preliminary concentration on magnetic sorbents functionalized by polymers based on molecular imprints is proposed. were determined In the concentrates EDC were converted to derivatives by reaction with acetic anhydride and then determined by gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The accuracy of the determination was evaluated by the "added–found" method. Use of the molecular imprinted polymers allows determining up to 5 ng/l NLP and 6 ng/l OP and BFA in wastewaters. In bottom sediments, the limit of determination was 100 ng/kg for NLP and 150 ng/kg for OP or BPA. The decrease in sensitivity was due to the high contamination of bottom sediments and increased matrix effects. Products of degradation of humic acid, surfactants and petroleum products have the greatest interfering effect. The method was tested on EDC screening in waters and bottom sediments of the Voronezh reservoir. Sites near the unorganized discharge of wastewaters and near the discharge of municipal wastewater treatment plants were selected as sampling points. The maximum concentrations of OP, NLP and BPA found in the river waters were 335, 1138 and 144 ng/l, respectively, and in the bottom sediments were 6.9, 10.7 and 5.9 μg/kg, respectively.