Extraction of selected pollutants in open tubular capillary columns Original Research Article

Extraction of selected phenol acetyl derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in open tubular capillary columns was studied. It was found that open tubular extraction enables to extract phenols in 10 sorptive cycles with yields similar to those obtained in equilibrium solvent extraction. The sorptive properties of the stationary phase can be modified by the use of various solvents. The positive effect of toluene used as a swelling agent is especially strong for nitrophenols. Using the Abraham model, distribution coefficients are well correlated with the pollutant parameters. The hydrophobicity of the pollutants measured by the molar volume or octanol–water distribution coefficient, is the most important factor affecting extraction in open tubular extraction. The signs of other regression coefficients reflect well the effect of the stationary phase polarity.