Simple Determination of Acrolein in Surface and Drinking Water by Headspace SPME GC–MS

Abstract

An automatic method to detect acrolein in surface and drinking water is described. This method is based on derivatization with 2,2,2-trifluoroethylhydrazine (2,2,2-TFEH) and consecutive headspace solid-phase micro extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME GC–MS). The HS-SPME parameters (selection of fiber, extraction/derivatization temperature, heating time and pH) were optimized and selected. Under the established condition, the detection and the quantification limits were 0.06 and 0.2 μg L−1 using 4 mL of surface water or drinking water, respectively, and the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation was less than 10 % at concentrations of 0.5 and 2.5 μg L−1. The calibration curve showed good linearity with r2 = 0.9977. The method is suitable for use in the routine analysis of acrolein in surface water or drinking water.