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JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A

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Journal of Chromatography A, 736 (1996) 105-114

Determination of polar pesticides in ground water using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization
Niels Henrik Spliid*, Benny KOppen
National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Received 4 July 1995; revised 14 December 1995; accepted 18 December 1995

Abstract

A method is described for determination of pesticides in ground water by liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The study demonstrates the sensitivity of the technique, with detection limits for water samples of about 0.001-0.005 /zg/l, corresponding to 50-300 pg injected. Performance data for the method such as recovery, precision and linearity are also reported. It is illustrated that the technique is applicable for many different types of pesticide structures, such as triazines, phenylurea herbicides, acetanilides, organophosphorus insecticides, etc. Twelve different pesticides and pesticide degradation products are included in the study. The optimization of inlet conditions with respect to sheath gas pressure, vaporizer temperature, capillary temperature and corona current is reported. Applicability of the method for analysis of "real-world" ground water samples is demonstrated.
Keywords: Environmental analysis; Water analysis; Pesticides

1. Introduction

For many years the use of pesticides in agriculture has given rise to concern about the unintended effects on the environment. During the last decade numerous reports on pesticides in ground water have received attention because of the implications for the supply of clean drinking water in the future. Especially in countries mainly relying on ground water for drinking water supply, these findings have caused much concern, e.g. in Denmark,