Pentachlorophenol sample preparation

Since the nature of these chemicals in water varies from polar compounds like phenol to very nonpolar compounds such as pentachlorophenol (PCP), it is a challenge to analytical chemists to determine them collectively. Conventional analytical methods for these compounds are often extensive as they require numerous analytical steps to obtain significant results. The first and also one of the most important requirements is to find a suitable sample preparation technique that allows the separation of the substances of interest from the sample matrix. The analysis of phenols in water is normed by EPA Method 625 [9]. A main disadvantage of this time-consuming and cost-intensive method is the large sample volume required for the extraction and use of large volumes of toxic organic solvents. Therefore, current developments in the field of sample preparation aim for fast and low-cost treatment of enviromnental samples. 

Standard soil samples were prepared as follows 50g aliquots of the fresh sandy loam soil were slurried with lOmL of organics-free water and were spiked with various amounts of pentachlorophenol. The spike was added in lOOpL of methanol to the wet soil and was allowed to equilibrate with the soil for lh. Stable-labelled pentachlorophenol was added at 4ppb and was also allowed to equilibrate with the soil for lh. 

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