Comparison of two derivatization-based methods for solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometric...

An environmentally friendly sample pretreatment system based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for the sensitive determination of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and biphenol (BP) is described. Two derivatisation reactions to obtain volatile derivatives are compared. Derivatisation with acetic anhydride (AA) was performed in situ in a 5-mM Na(2)CO(3)/NaHCO(3) buffer solution and analytes were extracted by direct immersion (DI) using a PA fibre (85 microm) at 90 degrees C for 40 min with stirring at 1,500 rpm. For derivatisation with bis-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), the analytes were first extracted by DI using the PA fibre at 70 degrees C for 40 min with stirring at 500 rpm. The fibre was then removed, dried in a nitrogen stream for 2 min and introduced into the headspace of BSTFA at 50 degrees C for 30 s. After derivatisation, the analytes were desorbed in the injection port of the GC in the splitless mode at 280 degrees C for 4 min. The separation was carried out by coupling gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode, GC-MS(SIM). The method allowed the determination of the migrating levels of bisphenols found in food cans, and it was validated for linearity, detection and quantitation limits, selectivity, accuracy and precision. Detection limits ranged from 3 to 16 pg mL(-1), depending on the compound, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Recoveries obtained for spiked samples were satisfactory for all compounds. Levels of BPA were higher than those of BPS and the lowest contents were found for BP.