Detection of Organophosphorus Esters (OPEs) in Groundwater

Abstract

Organophosphate esters (OPEs), are used as flame retardants and plasticizers to protect or enhance the properties of plastics, textiles, and many other materials. Sampling was carried out in groundwater from the karst aquifer Bokanjac–Poličnik near the city of Zadar, Croatia. To determine their continuous presence, samples were taken once during each season for one year. In the collected samples, nine OPEs were identified: tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate-TBEP, tricresyl phosphate-TCP, triphenyl phosphate-TPPA, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate-TCPP, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate-TCEP, tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate-TDCPP, diethyl phthalate-DEP, tri-n-butyl phosphate-TBP, and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate-DEHA.

Keywords

• organic pollutants
• OPEs
• groundwater quality
• karst aquifer