Determination of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol as contaminant in drinking water

An analytical procedure for the determination of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2-EH) in drinking water is presented. The method is based on volatile-compound stripping, adsorption on activated-charcoal-filled tubes, solvent elution, identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and determination by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Bottled samples with undesirable organoleptic characteristics were analyzed to determine a possible correlation with the presence of 2-EH. The presence of 2-EH at 2-10 micrograms/L was confirmed in several samples. The presence of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (D2EHP) was also checked in all samples. This compound was always found at 2-30 micrograms/L. Hydrolysis of D2EHP was carried out for 2 weeks to evaluate its possible contribution to water contamination by 2-EH. Tests did not show measurable amounts of the alcohol. Nonetheless, the hydrolysis of phthalates in the weakly acidic conditions of the examined waters would not justify the presence of 2-EH at the observed levels, and so it is reasonable to hypothesize a direct contamination from packaging materials containing 2-EH as residue from D2EHP synthesis.