Determination of the total phenol content of soils by high speed liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

The total phenol content of soil samples has been measured using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Soils are extracted with sodium hydroxide solution and the phenols present in the extract are recovered on solid phase C18 cartridges after pH adjustment. The measurement stage employs a short (3 cm) reversed phase column and electrochemical detection. The short column focuses the phenolic species into a single peak which can be integrated. Electrochemical detection provides both sensitivity and selectivity. Hence high speed measurement of a composite peak representing total phenol content is achieved.