RAPID SPME LC/MS/MS ANALYSIS OF N-METHYLCARBAMATE PESTICIDES IN WATER/

Solid-phase microextraction combined with fast short-column liquid chr omatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (SPME/LC/ MS/MS) was used for isolating and analyzing nine N-methylcarbamate pes ticides from water samples. Several SPME parameters, such as polarity of fibers, extraction time, and effect of ionic strength, were investi gated and their impact on the SPME/LC/MS/MS technique was studied. The method was shown to be sensitive with detection limits between 0.3 an d 1.9 mu g/L and reproducible with precision between 4.5 and 12.7% RSD . The versatility of the method was exhibited by its excellent lineari ty in the concentration range of 2-2,000 mu g/L in drinking water. A c omparison of the SPME/LC/MS/MS method with LC/MS/MS methods utilizing traditional sample preparation techniques shows that the former offers similar performance in terms of precision and linearity, but is clear ly easier to use and faster to perform.