Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry of Standard Organophosphorus Pesticides and Their Identification in Waste Water

The characteristic behaviour of four groups of commonly used organophosphorus pesticides such as phosphates, phosphorothionates, phosphorothiolates and phosphorodithioates has been investigated by field desorption mass spectrometry. Their spectra show molecular ions of high abundance and characteristic fragmentation patterns. The phosphates and phosphorothionates usually show the α-cleavage with respect to the P-atom with and without proton transfer. In contrast, the phosphorothiolates and phosphorodithioates usually show the β-cleavage from the P-atom. The fragments with the charge retention on the phosphorus moiety were also observed in the field desorption mass spectra, although their abundances were often relatively low.

The analyses of standard mixtures as well as some waste water samples indicate that field desorption mass spectrometry is suitable for the identification of organophosphorus pesticides at nanogram level in mixtures and environmental samples without preliminary separation and purification.