Current approaches in sample preparation for trace analysis of selected endocrine-disrupting compounds: Focus on polychlorinated biphenyls, alkylphenols, and parabens

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) belong to the most widely analyzed chemicals. This review covers three different groups of these compounds: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), alkylphenols (APs), and parabens with the last group belonging to the suspected EDC. Current trends in sample preparation of these compounds include usage of different techniques aiming mainly at simplification of procedures and low solvent consumption. Pressurized liquid extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction are the major techniques used for the isolation of EDCs from the solid matrix. For liquid samples, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) are the main techniques used for the isolation of EDCs. Current trends include mainly the synthesis of new sorbents for SPME: metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and polymeric ionic liquids (PILs). Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) is the third technique being widely introduced in the isolation of EDC from the liquid matrix. Nevertheless, hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME), stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), and dispersive SPE are also used.