SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND LC-MS OR SFC-MS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ATRAZINE METABOLITES IN WATER

A procedure which includes a preconcentration step followed by LC-MS o r SFC-MS sequence to analyze atrazine metabolites in water is proposed . The first step is achieved with good yields by solid phase extractio n on a C18 reverse phase (to retain atrazine and hydroxyatrazine) and/ or on cation exchange support (most metabolites). Thermospray-LC-MS ap pears, with limits of detection of ca 1 ng, as sensitive as LC-UV (pho todiode array) and applicable to both chlorotriazines and hydroxytriaz ines. Electrospray-SFC-MS is even more sensitive (one order of magnitu de) but only for detection of the less polar chlorotriazine compounds.