Determination of Triazine Herbicides and Degradation Products in Water by Solid-Phase Extraction and Chromatographic Techniques Coupled With Mass Spec

At least 29 triazines and 36 degradation products have been reported in the literature. For many reasons, no single method enables the simultaneous extraction and analysis of all of these compounds. Three methods are described for monitoring triazines and degradation products in filtered and raw water (0.5–1 L). Analytes are extracted from water samples by solid-phase extraction using cartridges packed with C18 bonded silica (Isolute Triazine) or graphitized carbon black (Carbopack B), and the eluate is analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry equipped with a large-volume injection system (LVI/GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source (LC/APCI-MS, LC-MS/MS/APCI). Tests show that most (>60%) of the recoveries are satisfactory. They are similar for all target pesticides for given types of water (filtered or raw water), sorbents, and chromatographic techniques. The coefficient of variation is less than 10% for most of the pesticides, regardless of the method used, and detection limits range from 0.2–3.7 ng/L and 2–5 ng/L for LVI/GC-MS and LC-MS/MS/APCI, respectively.