A new version of an additive scheme for the prediction of gas chromatographic retention indices of the 211 structural isomers of 4-nonylphenol

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1216; no. 18; pp. 4097 - 4106
• Main Authors: Zenkevich, Igor G., Makarov, Andrew A., Schrader, Steffi, Moeder, Monika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2009; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: Additive scheme; algorithms; chromatography; Chromatography, Gas - methods; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Isomerism; isomers; Nonylphenol isomers; NP code; Phenols - chemistry; pollution; prediction; Retention indices; risk assessment; xenoestrogens; NP code; Retention indices; Nonylphenol isomers; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Additive scheme
• ISSN: 0021-9673; 1873-3778
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.03.021

Control of environmental pollution by 4-nonylphenols (4-NP) and effective risk assessment concerning these xenoestrogens requires the identification of the individual isomers contained in the technical mixtures of 4-NP. A new approach is presented here which supports the identification of these compounds by a combination of experimentally determined gas chromatographic retention indices ( I) of reference 4-NP isomers and calculated I-values. In addition to experimental indices, the I-prediction algorithm includes a new version of an additive scheme. The I-values of all structural 4-NP isomers are calculated on the basis of experimentally determined indices of a few available 4-NP isomers and the known retention indices of 75 iso-decanes. A mean deviation of ±11 index units between predicted and experimental I-values demonstrates the feasibility of the new approach. The predicted I-values provide information on the structure of 4-nonylphenol isomers in the technical mixture which has not been considered before. Furthermore, a novel line-coding system is proposed to describe the structure of isomeric 4-NPs and to initiate a current database for the endocrine-disrupting 4-nonylphenols.