Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Concentrations of alkylphenol ethoxylates and alkylphenols in water and sediment from Makurdi city drains, North Central Nigeria Sylvester M. Tongu 1 , Rufus Sha’Ato 1,2 , Okechukwu J. Okonkwo 3 , Terrumun A.Tor-Anyiin 1 , Tlou B. Chokwe 4 , Ishaq S. Eneji 1 1 Department of Chemistry, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, PMB 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Environmental Sustainability, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, PMB 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. 3 Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. 4 Scientific Services Unit, Capricorn District Municipality, Polokwane, 0699, South Africa. Corresponding author: tongusyl@gmail.com, tongu.sylvester@uam.edu.ng This study established baseline data on the levels and seasonal variation of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and their alkylphenol (AP) derivatives in water and sediment from open drains in Makurdi city, Nigeria. Water and sediment samples were collected from the city drains bi-monthly, for a year of two seasons. The water samples were extracted by solid phase extraction column packed with glass wool and 0.5 g C18-reversed phase Silica gel while sediment samples were extracted by Sohxlet method at 55 0C for 16 hours. Derivatization of APE and AP extracts using 4 µL heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) and their levels determined by gas chromatogragh–mass spectrometer. The total concentration of APEs (Σ 8 APEs) in water ranged from 21.07 – 33.94 ngL -1 during dry season and from 4.21 – 202.48 ngL -1 during wet season. Their levels in sediment, during dry and wet seasons ranged from 15.04 – 220.41 ngg -1 and 6.83 – 155.13 ngg -1 respectively. The total APs (Σ 5 APs) ranged from 0.35–1.68 ngL -1 in water and 0.54 – 16.36 ngg -1 in sediment across the seasons. These results can be a useful reference for further studies and control measures on AP and APE pollution in the open city drains and water bodies within the city. Key words: Gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer, alkylphenol ethoxylates, Makurdi, alkylphenols References 1. Chokwe T. B., Okonkwo O. J., Sibali L. L. and Mporetji S. M. (2016). Occurrence and distribution pattern of alkylphenol ethoxylates and brominated flame retardants in sediment samples from Vaal River, South Africa. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicol., 97(3):353– 8. 2. Sosa-Ferrera Z., Mahugo-Santana C., and Santana-Rodriguez J. (2013). Analytical Methodologies for the Determination of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Biological and Environmental Samples. BioMedical Research International, 2013:1 – 23. 3. Tongu, S. M., Sha’Ato, R., Okonkwo, O. J., Eneji, I. S., Chokwe, T. B. and Tor-Anyiin, T. A. (2018). Determination of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs) and Alkylphenols (APs) in Water and Sediment from River Benue, North Central Nigeria. Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria, 43: 156 – 174.
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