Direct determination of trace amounts of chlorophenols in fresh water, waste water and sea water.

Chlorophenols were acetylated and the derivatives extracted by the simultaneous addition of acetic anhydride and hexane directly to the water sample. The extracts were then analysed by glass capillary column gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Determination of chlorinated phenols at micrograms/l concentration levels requires only 5 ml of sample. At ng/l levels a 100-ml sample is sufficient. The total time of analysis is 18 min per sample. A comparison between pentafluorobenzoylation and acetylation showed that the acetylated derivatives of chlorophenol isomers separated better on the column. The method has been applied to drinking water, sea water and waste water from a sulphate pulp mill.