Trace analysis of pesticide residues in water by high-speed narrow-bore capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with programmable temperature vaporizer

A method for the rapid trace analysis of 17 residual pesticides in water by narrow-bore capillary (I.D. 100 mu m) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) was discussed. Th e method consisted of a large-volume injection (40 mu l) by a PTV, high-spe ed analysis using a narrow-bore capillary column and MS detection. The PTV with solvent vent mode was very useful for large-volume injection into a na rrow-bore capillary column because the injected solvent volume could be red uced to less than 2 mu l. The analysis time was 8.5 min [less than 50% of t he analysis time using conventional columns (I.D. 250 mu m)]. A 10-ml volum e of river water was extracted by dichloromethane (4 ml), and then the extr act was condensed to 1 ml. This extract was analyzed. Mean recoveries for r iver water spiked at 100 pg/ml ranged from 83.4 to 96.7%. The limit of dete ctions of the 17 pesticides ranged from 1 to 100 pg/ml. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.