Simultaneous determination of antifouling herbicides in marina water samples by on-line solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line with either liquid chromatography–diode array detection (LC–DAD) or liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was applied to the simultaneous analysis of several antifouling herbicides such as diuron, TCMTB (2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole), Irgarol and chlorothalonil in seawater samples. SPE was carried out on polymeric cartridges (PLRP-s) after the percolation of 100 ml of seawater sample, with recoveries ranging from 96 to 111% for the antifouling compounds. LC–MS detection was used in negative and positive ion mode. In positive ion mode, additional structural information for diuron and Irgarol was obtained by increasing the fragmentor voltage, thus permitting the unequivocal identification of these compounds in environmental waters. Method detection limits were in the range of 0.005 μg/l. This methodology was also compared to LC–DAD in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. Finally, the method was evaluated for the analysis of environmental seawater samples, from the Ebre Delta area and Masnou marina, in Catalonia (Spain).