Compostos fenólicos como contaminantes ambientais: revisão sobre fontes, preparo de amostras e métodos cromatográficos

Abstract

Phenolic compounds represent a relevant class of environmental contaminants due to their wide occurrence, structural diversity and potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Although they may have natural origins, their presence at elevated concentrations in the environment is often associated with anthropogenic activities, such as industrial, agricultural, urban and combustion processes. Due to their physicochemical properties, these compounds can be present in different environmental matrices, such as waters, soils, sediments and the atmosphere, and may also undergo transformations that generate secondary products of environmental interest. In this context, this work presents a literature review on the determination of phenolic compounds in environmental matrices using chromatographic techniques, with a focus on liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. The review addresses the main sources of these compounds, their environmental distribution, their possible impacts and the methodological advances employed in their analysis. Chromatography stands out as an essential tool because it enables the separation and quantification of compounds present in complex samples, especially when associated with sensitive and selective detectors. The studies analyzed indicate that the choice between liquid chromatography and gas chromatography depends on the characteristics of the analytes and the matrix studied. Liquid chromatography is widely applied to more polar and thermally unstable compounds, whereas gas chromatography is more suitable for volatile, semi-volatile or previously derivatized compounds. In both cases, sample preparation is a fundamental step, as it contributes to the removal of interferents, preconcentration of the analytes and the achievement of more reliable results. Overall, there is a growing development of chromatographic methods applied to the monitoring of phenolic compounds in environmental matrices. These advances are important for understanding the occurrence, sources and risks associated with these contaminants, as well as for contributing to strategies for the assessment, control and mitigation of environmental pollution.