Nonylphenol, bisphenol-A and DDTs in Lake Donghu, China

A preliminary survey was carried out in April 2003 to estimate the levels of nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol-A (BPA) and residual DDTs in Lake Donghu. After then, the sediments of some areas of the lake were moved out for clearing the lake by the local government. Therefore, the variance of NP and BPA after the clearance of sediment in the surface water was determined from December 2003 to May 2004. Sediments, surface water and fish were collected from four sub-lake areas and the analytes were qualified by GC/MS in SIM mode after concentration onto an Oasis solid phase extraction cartridge. NP and BPA values ranged between 5.46-119.10 and 0.9913.42 mg/kg dw, respectively, in sediments, 75.2-179.6 and 15.1-62.5 mu g/L in surface water. Meanwhile, the bioaccumulation factors (BCFs) of NP and BPA were calculated in fish livers. Plasma vitellogenin (VTG), a sensitive biomarker showing oestrogenicity was detected in the captured male Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). After sediment clearance, the concentrations of NP and BPA decreased to 0.65-25.04 and 0.04-21.32 mu g/L. The results indicate the presence of high-dose xenoestrogenic NP and BPA, probably major contributors which associate with VTG induction in Lake Donghu male fish.

Comparative study of estrogenic potencies of estradiol, tamoxifen, bisphenol-A and resveratrol with two in vitro bioassays

This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity of two in vitro screening test methods and to determine the accuracy of predicted response to spiked laboratory water samples. A newly developed enzyme-linked receptor assay (ELRA) and a widely used yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay were selected to evaluate the estrogenic responses. Four natural, pharmaceutical, xenobiotic or phytobiotic chemicals: 17beta-estradiol (E2), tamoxifen, bisphenol-A and resveratrol were examined, and 17beta-E2 was used as a positive control. 17beta-E2 can strongly induce estrogenic response in both test systems, however, ELRA was found to be more sensitive to 17beta-E2 with a detection limit of 0.07 mug/l compared to 0.88 mug/l in YES assay. Similar results were obtained for bisphenol-A and resveratrol, and their estrogen potencies relative to E2 (100%) determined by ELRA were at least 5.6 times greater than produced by YES assay. ELRA was unable to distinguish the anti-estrogen tamoxifen and YES assay is also poor at distinguishing. Comparison of response to spiked laboratory water samples show that ELRA can give accurate determination to all four chemicals with recoveries among 70-120%, while YES can only give accurate determination to 17beta-E2 and bisphenol-A with recoveries among 69-112%. The comparative results provide evidence that ELRA is more suitable for rapid screening estrogenic potency of the environmental samples. Combination of ELRA and mammalian cellular assay will constitute an advantageous test to specify agonistic or antagonistic effects. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

FTIR study of poly(propylene carbonate)/bisphenol A blends

A systematic investigation by FTIR spectroscopy was undertaken on blends of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and bisphenol A (BPA). It provided direct evidence of the hydrogen bond (H-bond) between BPA O-H groups and PPC C=O groups. Using a curve-fitting method, qualitative as well as quantitative information concerning this H-bond interaction was obtained. The inter-H-bond in PPC/BPA blends was weaker than the self-H-bond in BPA. The absorptivities of the free and the H-bonded C=O groups were nearly equal. The fraction of H-bonded C=O in the blends increased with BPA content and leveled off at a value close to 40%. Finally, FTIR-temperature measurements of pure PPC and a representative blend were reported: by monitoring the peak areas of C=O absorptions, the dissociation of the inter-H-bonds and the thermal degradation of PPC were observed. It revealed that the presence of BPA clearly retarded the thermal degradation of PPC.

Quantitative FTIR study of PHBV/bisphenol A blends

FTIR spectroscopy was used to verify the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bond (inter-H-bond) between poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and bisphenol A (BPA). By monitoring the spectral changes during PHBV crystallization and blends dissociation, the absorptivity ratio of C=O bonds in crystalline and amorphous regions in PHBV and that of H-bonded and free C=O in PHBV/BPA blends were experimentally determined as 1.40 and 1.68, respectively. Using curve-fitting program, the C=O absorptions in spectra of blends were ascribed to three types of bonds: amorphous, crystalline and H-bonded C=O. The crystallinity of PHBV and the fraction of H-bonded C=O were calculated. These results indicated that the H-bond clearly suppressed the PHBV crystallization. Furthermore, the fraction of BPA molecules that simultaneously formed two hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) with C=O was estimated. It revealed that there existed a H-bond network in PHBV/BPA blends. This network was compared with the covalent network by estimating the number of atoms between every two adjacent crosslink points in chain. Up to the high density of H-bond discussed in this paper, there was always a certain part in PHBV that crystallized due to the dynamic character of hydrogen bonds; however, the hydrogen bonds significantly reduced the crystallization rate of PHBV.

Efficient synthesis and facile polymerization of some cyclic bisphenol o-phthalates

A series of new macrocyclic aromatic esters have been efficiently synthesized from o-phthaloyl dichloride and various bisphenols, and unambiguously characterized by a combination of GPC, MS(FAB), FTIR and NMR. These macrocyclic oligomers undergo facile ring-opening polymerization in the presence of anionic initiators to give high molecular weight polyarylates.

Isolation and X-ray crystallographic structure of cyclic tetramer based on bisphenol A and o-phthaloyl dichloride

The polycrystalline powder of the cyclic tetramer based on bisphenol A and o-phthaloyldichloride has been prepared by recrystallization from nitrobenzene and its crystal structure has been determined by Wide-Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD). The unit cell is orthorhombic and its dimensions a = 0.967 6 nm, b = 0.869 9 nm, c = 2.085 9 nm, Space group belongs to Pmmm, With two tetramers per unit cell,the crystal density is 1.36 g . cm(-3), Indices of crystal diffraction peaks are also detailed in the present work.

X-ray crystallographic structure of cyclic tetramer ester based on bisphenol-A and o-phthaloyldichloride

The polycrystalline powder of the cyclic tetramer ester based on bisphenol-A and o-phthaloyldichloride has been prepared by recrystallization from nitrobenzene and its crystal structure determined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The unit cell is orthorhombic and has dimensions a=0.967 nm, b=0.8699 nm, c = 2.0859 nm. With two tetramers per unit cell, the crystal density is 1.36 g cm(-3). Indices of crystal diffraction peaks are also detailed in the present work. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.

MISCIBILITY AND PHASE-BEHAVIOR IN BLENDS OF POLY(HYDROXYETHER OF BISPHENOL-A) WITH POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE-CO-PROPYLENE OXIDE)

The miscibility of poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) with a series of poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) (EPO) has been studied. It was found that the critical copolymer composition for achieving miscibility with phenoxy around 60-degrees-C is about 22 mol % ethylene oxide (EO). Some blends undergo phase separation at elevated temperatures, but there is no maximum in the miscibility window. The mean-field approach has been used to describe this homopolymer/copolymer system. From the miscibility maps and the melting-point depression of the crystallizable component in the blends, the binary interaction energy densities, B(ij), have been calculated for all three pairs. The miscibility of phenoxy with EPO is considered to be caused mainly by the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between the hydroxyl groups of phenoxy and the ether oxygens of the EO units in the copolymers, while the intramolecular repulsion between EO and propylene oxide units in the copolymers contributes relatively little to the miscibility.

Tailoring The Mechanical Performance Of Epoxy Resin By Various Nanoparticles

Flexible organic elastomeric nanoparticles (ENP) and two kinds of rigid inorganic silica nanoparticles were dispersed respectively into a bisphenol-A epoxy resin in order to tailor and compare the performance of mechanical properties. It was found that the well-dispersed flexible ENP greatly enhanced the toughness of the epoxy with the cost of modulus and strength. Comparatively, the rigid silica nanoparticles improved Young's modulus, tensile strength and fracture toughness simultaneously. Both fumed and sol-gel-formed nanosilica particles conducted similar results in reinforcing the epoxy resin, although the latter exhibited almost perfect nanoparticle dispersion in matrix. The toughening mechanisms of nanocomposites were further discussed based on fractographic analysis.

Seasonal variations of estrogenic compounds and their estrogenicities in influent and effluent from a municipal sewage treatment plant in China

The seasonal variations of estrogenic compounds and the estrogenicities of influent and effluent were investigated by OF chemical analysis and in vitro assay in a municipal sewage treatment plant in Wuhan (China). The levels of eight estrogenic compounds, including 17 beta-estradiol (E-2) estrone (E-1), estriol (E-3) diethylstilbestrol (DES), 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol, nonylphenol (NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA), were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total estrogenic activity of sewage was quantitatively assessed using primary cultured hepatocytes of male Megalobrama amblycephala Yih using vitellogenin as a biomarker. The E-2 equivalents (EEQs) obtained from the chemical analysis were consistent with those measured by bioassay. The natural (E-1, E-2, and E-3) and synthetic (DES) estrogens, as well as NP, were the main contributors of the total EEQs of influent and effluent in the present study. The levels of natural estrogens E-1 and E-3 in the influent and effluent were higher in winter than in summer, whereas the situation for NP and OP was the reverse. The levels of E-2, DES, and BPA varied little among different seasons. 17 alpha-Ethinylestradiol was not detected in the influent and effluent. The estrogenicities of the influent and of the primary and secondary effluents were all higher in summer than in winter. Estrogenic activities in winter mainly originated from natural (E-1, E-2, and E-3) and synthetic (DES) estrogens, whereas the increase of EEQs in summer was contributed by NP The results from chemical analysis and bioassay demonstrate that estrogenic compounds cannot be entirely removed by the existing sewage treatment process, which should be further improved to protect aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Analysis of estrogens in environmental waters using polymer monolith in-polyether ether ketone tube solid-phase microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid and sensitive on-line method for simultaneous determination of four endocrine disruptors (17 beta-estradiol, estriol, bisphenol A and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol) in environmental waters was developed by coupling in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD). A poly(acrylamide-vinylpyridine-NAP-methylene bisacrylamide) monolith, synthesized inside a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) tube, was selected as the extraction medium. To achieve optimum extraction performance, several parameters were investigated, including extraction flow-rate, extraction time, and pH value, inorganic salt and organic solvent content of the sample matrix. By simply filtered with nylon membrane filter and adjusting the pH of samples to 6.0 with phosphoric acid, the sample solution then could be directly injected into the device for extraction. Low detection limits (S/N = 3) and quantification limits (S/N = 10) of the proposed method were achieved in the range of 0.006-0.10 ng/mL and 0.02-0.35 ng/mL from spiked lake waters, respectively. The calibration curves of four endocrine disruptors showed good linearity ranging from quantification limits to 50 ng/mL with a linear coefficient R-2 value above 0.9913. Good method reproducibility was also found by intra- and inter-day precisions, yielding the RSDs less than 12 and 9.8%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of these compounds in several environmental waters. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.