Fast analysis of bisphenol A and bisphenol F

 Summary

A time-optimized method for the separation and determination of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF) using a KNAUER PLATINblue UHPLC system is presented in this application note. Reduction of analysis time to less than 1 minute is achieved by employing the BlueOrchid C18 stationary phase with a 1.8 μm particle size filled in a 2 mm ID column. A binary high pressure gradient configuration is used at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min and detection is carried out with a photo diode array (PDA) detector.

Introduction

Bisphenols and especially BPA and BPF have become well known to the public in the last years due to their negative health effects. The concerns over BPA as the best known bisphenol began with baby bottles and spread to include other types of food and drink packaging. Bisphenols are used by the plastic producing industry as antioxidants for softeners, fungicides and as intermediates during the production process of polycarbonates, epoxides, phenol resins and dyes. European companies consume 1.15 Mio tons every year concerning to the EU. Most often BPA is used in the production of the two most commonly used polymers polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycarbonate. In PVC production BPA acts as a polymerization inhibitor. After completed polymerization BPA residues may remain in the material. In polycarbonate production BPA is also an important monomer. Not all of the BPA is consumed in the production process and may leach out of the polymer later on. Today many applications of polycarbonate have been replaced with new copolymers such as co-polyester to eliminate BPA.^1,2