DETERMINATION OF CHLOROPHENOLS IN DRINKING-WATER WITH HIGH-RESOLUTIONGAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A new method for the determination of sub-ppb levels of chlorophenols in drinking water by use of GC-MS-MS is proposed. Monitoring of these analytes for assurance of compliance with legally allowed limits can r eadily be accomplished by extraction as acetylated chlorophenols from low sample volumes (10 ml). Much lower detection limits can be achieve d by preconcentrating 11 of sample using graphitized carbon cartridges for solid extraction. Appropriate selection of parent ions and fragme ntation conditions ensures not only a high sensitivity, but also clean product ion spectra that allow positive identification of every speci es considered (polychlorophenol isomers included).