title: Determination of quaternary ammonium compounds in seawater samples by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: A method for the simultaneous determination of two biocidal quaternary ammonium compounds; didecyldimethylammonium chloride (didecyldimethyl quat) and dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (benzyl quat), in seawater by solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was developed. The optimised procedure utilised off-line extraction of the analytes from seawater using polymeric (Strata-X) SPE cartridges. Recoveries ranged from 80 to 105%, with detection limits at the low parts-per-trillion (ng/l) level for both analytes. To demonstrate sensitivity, environmental concentrations were measured at three different locations along the North East coast of England with measured values in the range 120-270ng/l.
authors.affiliation: International Paint Ltd., Stoneygate Lane, Felling Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE10 0JY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bassarab
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludkin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C027118:didecyldimethylammonium