U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 98-634

Method of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group--Determination Triazine and Chloroacetanilide Herbicides in Water by Solid-Phase Extraction and Capillary-Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry With Selected-Ion Monitoring

Abstract

A method for the isolation and analysis of 13 triazine and chloroacetanilide herbicides and 3 herbicide metabolites in natural-water samples is described. The herbicides and metabolites are isolated by octadecyl (C-18) solid-phase extraction and determined by capillary-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion mode monitoring. Water samples are filtered to remove suspended particulate matter and then are pumped through disposable solid-phase extraction columns containing octadecyl-bonded porous silica to extract the compounds. The adsorbed herbicides and metabolites are removed from the columns by elution with ethyl acetate. Extracted herbicides and metabolites are determined by capillary-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring of two to three characteristic ions. The upper concentration limit for the method is 5 micrograms per liter without dilution. Method detection limits range from 0.03 to 0.05 microgram per liter in reagent-, surface-, and ground-water samples. Mean recovery in reagent-water samples is 96.8 percent.

Additional information about the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory can be found at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/studies/reslab/

Zimmerman, L.R., and Thurman, E.M., 1999, Method of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group--Determination Triazine and Chloroacetanilide Herbicides in Water by Solid-Phase Extraction and Capillary-Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry With Selected-Ion Monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-634, 21 p.

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