Accurate LC-MS/MS analysis of APEOs and APs in textiles

In this application note, the analysis of the most critical alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and alkylphenols (APs) (namely NPEOs, octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) and their APs) are demonstrated using LC-MS/MS through MRM mode.

The safety of consumer products has raised concerns globally. In particular, the presence of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and alkylphenols (APs) in everyday products and industrial waste discharges have been worrying due to their persistent nature, endocrine-disruptive properties and aquatic toxicity. Strict regulations have been implemented in some countries and EU have even restricted the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) in textiles under REACH.

In this article, the analysis of the most critical APEOs and APs (namely NPEOs, octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) and their APs) are demonstrated using LC-MS/MS through MRM mode. Analytical conditions for APEOs and APs are each optimized to give high-sensitivity quantitation of these restricted chemicals. Excellent linearity is achieved in the range of 1–100 ng/mL. Furthermore, with slight changes in the analytical conditions (e.g. column dimensions and mobile phases), this described setup can easily identify other restricted chemicals (e.g. PFAS and aromatic amines) in textiles.

MRM Chromatogram of (a) APEO standards (NPEO and OPEO) at 50ng/mL and
(b) AP standards (NP, 4-n-NP, 4-n-OP and 4-t-OP) at 20ng/mL.

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• Achieve high-sensitivity and accurate LC-MS/MS analysis of APEOs and APs in textiles
• Find out more on the analysis of other restricted chemicals (e.g. PFAS, azo dyes and aromatic amines) in textiles using the LC-MS/MS Method Package.