Removal of BPA model compounds and related substances by means of column chromatography using Octolig®

Abstract

Octolig®, a polyethylenediimine ligand covalently attached to high-surface area silica gel, was used to study the removal of phenolic compounds from aqueous samples by column chromatography. Model phenolic compounds of Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-isopropylphenol and 4-(t-butyl) phenol, were selected for this study due to their similarities in pKa and log P values. The percent removal of these compounds by Octolig® was 26 ± 2 and 22 ± 2, respectively. Furthermore, the three isomers of nitrophenol were investigated as well as additional phenolic compounds, such as amoxicillin and five phenolic dyes. These compounds have a pKa range of 2-10.2. The compounds that have pKa values less than 8.3 were able to be completely removed by Octolig®, yet compounds with pKa values of 8.3 and higher resulted in approximately 20-26% removal.