An attempt by solid-phase microextraction with on-column silylation for a rapid and highly sensitive determination of bisphenol A

Abstract

A combination solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and on-column silylation was applied for a rapid and highly sensitive determination of environmental endocrine disruptors in water samples. In this study, bisphenol A {BPA, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane} was selected. BPA was extracted by absorption over the surface of SPME fiber which was directly exposed to the sample. The fiber was introduced into the injection port of GC/MS, where BPA was thermally desorbed followed by injecting bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) as a derivative with a syringe in the gas phase under He flow. In a comparison without silylation, the peak area of on-column silylated BPA was increased to approximately 20 times. The detection limit was about 1 ppb, lower than expected for originating in a epoxy-resin adhesive from a SPME fiber.