HPLC–ED of low-molecular weight brominated phenols and tetrabromobisphenol A using pretreated carbon fiber microelectrode

Electrochemically pretreated carbon fiber microelectrode was used to develop a simple, fast and sensitive HPLC–ECD method for the determination of brominated phenols. In addition to simple mono-, di- and tri-bromophenols (4-bromophenol, 2,4-dibromophenol, 2,6-dibromophenol, 2,4,6-tri-bromophenol) the possibility of electrochemical detection of 3,3ʹ,5,5ʹ-tetrabromobisphenol A in oxidation mode is reported for the first time. The isocratic separation was achieved within 14 min using ternary mobile phase consisting of 50 mM-phosphate buffer (pH 3.5), acetonitrile and methanol (35/15/50, v/v), and detection potential of E=+1450 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The carbon fiber microelectrode permitted to use high anodic potentials (up to +1800 mV vs. Ag/AgCl), the optimum analytical response was achieved at +1450 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The limits of detection (LOD) for the studied analytes were within the range of 1.8–56.6 ng mL−1. The developed method was applied to determination of brominated phenols in spiked water samples. Furthermore, after simple extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether, it was possible to quantify tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) in a piece of CRT monitor plastic casing. The found amount of TBBA was 10.22 mg kg−1 (±0.43).