Determination of Endocrine Disruptors in Environmental Water by Single-Drop Microextraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Using single-drop microextraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography, an effective method for the rapid extraction for endocrine disruptors, including estrogens and alkylphenols, was developed. Factors that influenced the extraction efficiency, such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic property, polarity, and van der Waals forces, were evaluated in detail. The results indicated that bisphenol A and estrogens were extracted effectively by the solvents with hydrogen bond acceptors and higher polarity; alkylphenols preferred solvents that could supply strong van der Waals forces or possessed pi-pi stacking structures and superior hydrophobicity. The optimum extraction conditions were determined, including extraction time, pH, and salt effects. Under the optimized conditions, high extraction factors (>= 147) were achieved. Limits of detection for the endocrine disruptors were between 0.33 and 0.67 mu gL(-1). The method strategy is well suited for the determination of trace levels of endocrine disruptors in environmental water.