Abstract
A simple method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been developed for the determination of individual nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactants (NPnEO) in river waters and discharges of sewage treatment plants. Quantification limits of individual NPnEO (n=2-17) were less than 2ng/l and 10ng/l in river waters and discharges of sewage treatment plants, respectively. The recoveries of NPnEO were 70.7-86.2% in river water and 40.0-67.0% in the discharge of sewage treatment plant.
This method was applied for determination of NPnEO in Tamagawa river water and discharges of sewage treatment plants. Over 95% of total NPnEO (n=2-17) in discharges of sewage treatment plants were found as NPnEO (n=2-6) . On the other hand, the NP9EO constituted the most abundant NPnEO in Tamagawa river water. These results suggested that the discharges of sewage treatment plants were unlikely major source of NPnEO in Tamagawa river water.
