Solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography- mass spectrometry for the determination of the adsorption coefficients of triazines in soil

Abstract

Solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was used to determine the adsorption coefficients (Koc) for six target triazines in soil and sediment samples with different organic matter contents and textures. SPME-GC-MS was used in conjunction with a conventional batch equilibrium method. The recoveries of the selected triazines from soils and sediments having organic carbon contents in the range 0.2–2.4% were satisfactory. Drawbacks of conventional analytical techniques are avoided; owing to the selectivity of SPME-GC-MS, no sample pre-treatment or solvent enrichment steps were required so that Koc values could be easily determined. Moreover, the sensitivity of the technique makes it possible to work at low triazine concentrations (50–500 ng g–1) where the Freundlich adsorption isotherm can be considered linear.