Nonylphenol, octylphenol, and bisphenol A have been shown to have toxic effects in aquatic organisms. The source of nonylphenol and octylphenol is prominently from the use of common commercial surfactants. The most widely used surfactant is NPEO which has an average ethoxylate chain of 9 mol of ethoxylate. The ethoxylate chain is readily biodegraded to form NP1EO and NP2EO, nonylphenol carboxylate (NPEC) and, under anaerobic conditions, nonylphenol. Nonylphenol will also biodegrade, but may be released into environmental waters directly at trace levels. This method has been investigated for use with surface water and waste treatment effluent samples and is applicable to these matrices. It has not been investigated for use with salt water or solid sample matrices.

1.1 This test method covers determination of nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) that are partitioned into organic solvent, separated using gas chromatography and detected with mass selective detection. These compounds or isomer mixtures are qualitatively and quantitatively determined by this method. This method adheres to selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry but full scan mass spectrometry has also been shown to work well under these conditions. Either analysis may be used.

1.2 The method detection limit (MDL) reporting limit (RL) for NP, NP1EO, NP2EO, OP, and BPA are listed in Table 1.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.