Determination of pentachlorophenol in certified waste waters, soil samples and industrial effluents using ELISA and liquid solid extraction followed by liquid chromatography

The Pentachlorophenol RaPID-ELISA was compared with on-line liquid solid extraction (LSE) followed by liquid chromatography (LC) for the monitoring of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in certified waste waters, a waste water sample from a pulp industry, a soil sample from Brazil and a certified reference material. The water pH (1 to 9), and two cross-reactants (2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol) were also evaluated to know if these parameters could affect the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determinations. Water samples were spiked with certified material provided by Aquacheck, containing pentachlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol at concentration levels ranging from 1 to 10 μg 1−1. Good correlations were found between the data obtained by ELISA and from on-line LSE-LC using PLRP-S sorbent and UV detection. A dried contaminated industrial soil used as certified reference material from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the European Commission (EC), a soil sample containing pentachlorophenol at low level (μg g−1) and a waste water sample from a pulp industry were also studied using both techniques. Moreover, the confirmation of all analytes present in the waste water was carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using atmospheric pressure interface (APCI). The presence of unknown cross-reactants in the waste water affected the ELISA determinations.