Development and Application of a Purification Method for the Determination of Three EDCs Isotopes in Sediments and Water

Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) is an efficient method for source apportionment and the identification of transformation process in organic compounds. However, most studies CSIA are still limited to laboratory experiments. Few used have situ environment due complexity environmental samples. Therefore, a purification analyzing carbon ratios three phenolic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (nonylphenols (NPs), octylphenol (OP), bisphenol A(BPA)) sediment water samples was developed this study. The silica gel column isolate EDCs from complex matrices with multiple solvents. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry quantify targeted analyze purity extracts full-scan mode. interfering peaks disappeared, baseline sharply reduced, all target appeared as single chromatogram after purification. Analyzing standard known showed that treatment did not cause fractionation. isotopic difference before less than 0.04. successfully composition BPA, OP, NPs river sediments Guangzhou River, Pearl River Delta, South China. Sewage discharge significantly affected values OP rivers, suggesting sewage main rivers. There significant correlation between concentrations sediments, indicating they may undergo chemical transformation.