Fully automated multianalyte determination of different classes of pesticides, at picogram per litre levels in water, by on-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry.
This paper reports the development of a fully automated method for the multianalyte determination of twenty pesticides belonging to different classes (triazines, phenylureas, organophosphates, anilines, acidic, propanil, and molinate) in natural and treated waters. The method, based on on-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry, is highly sensitive (limits of detection between 0.004 and 2.8 ng L(-1)), precise (relative standard deviations between 2.0 and 12.1%), reliable (two selected reaction-monitoring transitions are monitored per compound), rapid (45 min per sample), and simple. The application of this method to the monitoring of the target compounds in a waterworks revealed the presence of the pesticides investigated at concentrations up to 516 and 82 ng L(-1) (total pesticide concentration) in river water and ground water, respectively, used as sources, and their gradual removal through the purification process.
Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece.
Adamantia A
AA
Kampioti
Ana C
AC
Borba da Cunha
Maria
M
López de Alda
Damià
D
Barceló
D001331:Automation; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification
D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical