Determination of Eight Organochlorine Pesticides at Low Nanogram/Liter Concentrations in Groundwater Using Filter Disk Extraction and Gas Chromatography

Abstract

Abstract Eight organochlorine pesticides may be quantitated routinely at levels below 10 parts per trillion (ng/L) in natural groundwaters. Analytes are extracted rapidly from 1 L groundwater samples by using conditioned Teflon filter disks impregnated with silica containing bonded octadecyl phase. Filter is dried briefly under vacuum, and pesticides are eluted with 10 mL ethyl acetate. The extract is dried with about 1 g anhydrous sodium sulfate and then concentrated to exactly 1 mL. Pesticides are separated in a gas chromatograph equipped with a capillary column, detected by a high-sensitivity electron capture detector, and quantitated by the method of external standards. Certified reporting limit (CRL) values for the 8 pesticides ranged between 2 and 7 ng/L. Preliminary data demonstrated that the organochlorine pesticides could be collected on the filter disks and stored up to 4 weeks in the dark at either refrigerated or ambient temperature without obvious degradation of the sample. Calculated CRL values are comparable (within a factor of 2) to method detection limit values defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.