Development of an HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous analysis of four xenoestrogens in water and its application for monitoring photocatalytic degradation

A high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 4 xenoestrogens in water for monitoring their photocatalytic degradation in synthetic water. The analytical parameters evaluated were linearity, limits of detection, and quantification (LODs and LOQs), selectivity, and accuracy, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Eurachem guidelines. The developed method shows good linearity (R(2) > 0.995 for all compounds), and LODs ranged from 0.02 to 0.04 mg L(−1), while LOQs ranged from 0.05 to 0.11 mg L(−1). Moreover, accuracy expressed as recovery and precision were within the required limits. Therefore, the developed method was considered accurate, and reliable. In addition, it was successfully applied for monitoring a mixture of 4 xenoestrogens in water during the photocatalytic treatment. • An HPLC-DAD method was developed to quantify 4 xenoestrogens in water simultaneously. • The developed HPLC-DAD method shows excellent linearity, selectivity, and accuracy. • A mixture of 4 xenoestrogens was reliably monitored during their photocatalytic degradation.