Determination of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Their Acetic Acid Derivatives in Drinking Water by Particle Beam Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Particle beam liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (PB/LC/MS) was used to analyze finished drinking water for non-volatile organic compounds. 500 liters of finished water were extracted with an on-line continuous liquid/liquid extractor with dichloromethane at pH 7.4. PB/LC/MS was an excellent tool to detect and identify ng/L concentrations of alkylphenol polyethoxylates (n = 3−8), materials which went undetected by on-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In addition, alkylphenol polyethoxylate carboxylates with 2–7 degrees of ethoxylation could be detected without chemical derivatization.