METABOLITES OF ALACHLOR IN WATER - IDENTIFICATION BY MASS-SPECTROMETRY AND CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS

This biodegradation study of alachlor in water was designed to assess the presence and the identity of metabolites. Alachlor was incubated i n river water for 28 days. The pesticide and its transformation produc ts were extracted by solid phase extraction and analyzed by gas chroma tography/mass spectrometry. Selected samples were also analyzed by liq uid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The disappearance of the pestici de was not significative, but several compounds were identified as ala chlor metabolites. Nine compounds were confirmed by comparison with sy nthetic standards. One metabolite has never been reported. For seven m olecules, formulae were presumed on the basis of spectrum interpretati on and literature data.