Simultaneous determination of alkylphenol ethoxylates and their biotransformation products by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

Reversed-phase LC–MS/MS is used to determine major estrogenic alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and their biotransformation products. It allows the simultaneous analysis of eight APEOs, alkylphenoxy carboxylates (APECs) and alkylphenols (APs) in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents in the same extract after solid-phase enrichment on polymeric Oasis HLB. As precursor ions, [APEO+NH4]+, [APEC−H]− and [AP−H]− were monitored. Instrumental limits of detection (LOD) were 2–600 pg, corresponding to sample concentrations of 0.04–12 ng l−1, without correction for overall method recoveries. Matrix-induced signal suppression during electrospray ionisation (ESI) and extraction as well as overall method recoveries were assessed and the suitability of deuterated surrogates as internal standards was evaluated.