Determination of Phthalate Esters in Wastewater by Single-Drop Microextraction Coupled to Capillary Gas Chromatography

Abstract

Single-drop microextraction (SDME) coupled to capillary gas chromatography (GC) was established for the determination of four phthalate esters in wastewater, including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP). The SDME parameters such as extractants, extracting time，stirring rate and immerging depth of needle point were studyed and optimized. The abovementioned phthalate esters were quantified by external standardization method using GC coupled with a flame ionization detector (FID). The linear regression calibration curves, detection limits (S/N=3) and the linear ranges of the method for determining each phthalate were determined, respectively. The concentrations of components abovementioned in a real wastewater sample, the average of the recoveries obtained in the spiked wastewater samples and the corresponding relative standard deviations were determined, respectively. The results showed the proposed method several attributes, friendly enviroment, economic and highly efficient pretreatment, less time, simplicity, sensitivity, accuracy and wide linear range and so on.