Trace determination of antifouling compounds by on-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) on-line coupled to gas c hromatography-mass spectrometry through an on-column interface has been app lied to determine three antifouling compounds in water samples. Parameters affecting the SPE process and transfer step have been optimised and the met hod developed has been applied to the analysis of marinas, fishing ports an d Ebro river water. The method allows the analytes to be detected at 0.01 m u g l(-1) in SIM acquisition mode by preconcentrating only 10 mi of water s ample. Different marina and fishing port water samples have been analysed a nd Irgarol 1051 has been found in some of them at a concentration level equ al or lower than 0.05 mu g l(-1) (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.