PROPANOLS AS DERIVATIZATION REAGENTS FOR A DETERMINATION OF MX CHLORS-4-DICHLOROMETHYL)-5-HYDROXY-2(5H)-FURANONE) IN WATER

Propanols are proposed as derivatization reagents for the determinatio n of -chloro-4(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) - an extr emely potent mutagen, commonly present in chlorinated drinking water. According to WHO guidelines and due to its high mutagenic activity MX concentration should be controlled in drinking waters. Determination o f MX is difficult due to ng l(-1) levels at which the compound usually exists in drinking waters. Thus, there is a need for analytical proce dures which improve detectability of the compound. The results of this work clearly show that propanols are much better derivatization reage nts than commomly used methanol.