High performance liquid chromatography determination of chlorophenols in water samples after preconcentration by continuous flow liquid membrane extraction on-line coupled with a precolumn

A continuous flow liquid membrane extraction (CFLME)–C18 precolumn-liquid chromatography system was developed for preconcentration and determination of chlorinated phenols (CPs). After preconcentration by CFLME, which is based on the combination of continuous flow liquid–liquid extraction and supported liquid membrane, CPs were enriched in 960 l of 0.5 mol l−1 NaOH used as acceptor. This acceptor was on-line neutralized and transported onto the C18 precolumn where analytes were absorbed and focused. Then the focused analytes were injected onto the C18 analytical column for separation and detected at 215 nm with a diode array detector. CFLME related parameters such as flow rates, pH of donor and acceptor concentration were optimized. The proposed method presents detection limits of 0.02–0.09 g l−1 (S/N = 3) when 100 ml samples were enriched. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine CPs in tap water and river water samples with spiked recoveries in the range of 70–121%. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.