Determination of Nonylphenol and Its Ethoxylates by HPLC 1100 in Water Environment of Taiyuan City

The aim of this work is to study the occurrence of nonylphenol and its ethoxylates in Taiyuan industrial area. The present study has firstly determined best conditions of Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates detection by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 1100 series, variating solvent, mobile phase and flow: rate. These conditions let secondly the concentration determination of these pollutants in water media. Samples were collected from surface and groundwater in the industrial area of Taiyuan city (Shanxi province). Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEOs) detection was better when solvent and Mobile phase were 2-propanol and Flow rate at 0.1 ml/min. Concentrations of Nonylphenol (NP) and NPEOs found in rivers and wastewaters collectors ranged from 80 to 933 µg/L and 38 to 743 µg/L respectively, while for groundwater, concentrations ranged from 24.6 to 151 µg/L and from 20 to 274 µg/L. These high concentrations found both in surface and groundwater, represent a risk of exposition to endocrine disruptors for humans and aquatic species. Actions should be taken to avoid or reduce the use of those compounds, or industries should apply some treatment before release their wastewater into environment. Attention should be paid especially to groundwater in case of human consumption. Introduction to groundwater way and degradation pathways from surface water to groundwater need to further study.