An experimental design approach to optimise the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from rainfall water using stir bar sorptive extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) followed by HPLC-fluorescence detection (FLD) was optimised for analysing 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples, especially rainfall water with low PAH content. The literature data described widely different experimental conditions for the extraction of PAHs by SBSE. A chemometric approach was therefore used to evaluate the statistically influential and/or interacting factors, among those described in the literature, and to find the best extraction and desorption conditions. Among six factors studied in a 2(6-2) fractional factorial design, only sample volume, extraction time and the interaction between both of them had significant effects on the PAH extraction recoveries. Optimal sample volume of 10 mL and extraction time of 140 min were obtained with a response surface design. For the desorption conditions, a Box-Behnken design showed that desorption time, temperature and PAH concentrations had significant effects. The best conditions were two successive desorptions with 100 microL of acetonitrile for 25 min at 50 degrees C. The optimised method was repeatable (RSD< or =5.3% for 50 ng L(-1) spiked water and < or =12.8% for 5 ng L(-1) spiked water), linear (R(2)> or =0.9956), with quantitative absolute recoveries (> or =87.8% for 50 ng L(-1) spiked water), and with the LOD between 0.2 and 1.5 ng L(-1). The optimised method was successfully applied to six-rainfall water samples collected in a suburban area. The total PAHs concentrations studied ranged from 31 to 105.1 ng L(-1). Seasonal variation was observed and on average three PAHs were at the highest concentrations (phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene).     

Simultaneous Filtration and Solid-Phase Extraction Combined with Large-Volume Injection in GC/MS for Ultra-Trace Analysis of Polar Pesticides in Surface Water

A method combining simultaneous filtration and solid-phase extraction (SPE) with large-volume injection (LVI) in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed to determine 13 polar pesticides in surface water. The selected pesticides - 4 organophosphorus, 7 organonitrogens and 2 triazine degradation products - were extracted from 0.5-L samples of filtered and raw water using cartridges filled with a silica-bonded material (1 g of ISOLUTE triazine, C-18) and a depth filter. No obstruction was observed during the extraction of raw water drawn from the St. Lawrence River (concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) ranging from 2 to 58 mg L^?1). Overall percent recoveries were satisfactory for all the target pesticides (>60%) except desisopropyl-atrazine (more polar), which varied from 29 to 46% according to sample pH. The coefficient of variation was below 10% for the majority of the target pesticides and detection limits ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 ng L^?1. Applied to real samples drawn from the St. Lawrence River, this method allowed for the detection of atrazine, cyanazine, desethyl-atrazine (DEA), desisopropyl-atrazine (DIA), metolachlor and simazine, at concentrations of 6 to 91 ng L^?1. Using atrazine and metolachlor as examples, the correlation between filtered and raw water samples was more significant for the former (r = 0.87) than for the latter (r = 0.67). Temporal variations in atrazine and metolachlor in filtered water drawn from the St. Lawrence River, for example, were similar whether using the established method, based on liquid-liquid large-volume extraction (LVE) combined with GC/NPD analysis, or the one proposed herein. The latter method, however, systematically found atrazine concentrations 62% higher than those obtained by the older one, applied to the same field samples. Thus, the switch to the new analytical method will require the application of a correction factor to the atrazine concentration time series acquired with the previously used method.     

Application of a polysiloxane-based extraction method combined with column liquid chromatography to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental samples

Silicone rods with a diameter of 1 mm and 10 mm long were used to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples and for the rapid screening of highly contaminated waste material. The rods were placed in a 15 ml glass vial for the extraction of the analytes, which involved shaking (300 min⁻¹) the sample for 3 h. After extraction the rods were placed into 250 μl inserts of 2 ml vials filled with 100 μl of an acetonitrile-water mixture (4:1) and desorption was performed with sonication for 10 min. Then the PAHs were determined using LC and fluorescence detection. Recoveries of the rod extraction ranged between 62 and 97% and the detection limits were between 0.1 and 1.2 ng l⁻¹. These results are comparable with those of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). Although the rods are reusable, their low price means they can be discarded if contaminated, eliminating the need for expensive cleaning. One disadvantage compared to SBSE is the longer extraction time needed to reach equilibrium.     

Determination of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous and solid samples from an Italian wastewater treatment plant

A robust procedure for the determination of 16 US EPA PAHs in both aqueous (e.g. wastewaters, industrial discharges, treated effluents) and solid samples (e.g. suspended solids and sludge) from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is presented. Recovery experiments using different percentages of organic modifier, sorbents and eluting solvent mixtures were carried out in Milli-Q water (1000 mL) spiked with a mixture of the PAH analytes (100 ng/L of each analyte). The solid phase extraction (SPE) procedures applied to spiked waste water samples (1000 mL; 100 ng/L spiking level) permitted simultaneous recovery of all the 16PAHs with yields >70% (6-13% RSD). SPE clean up procedures applied to sewage and stabilized sludge extracts, showed percent recoveries in the range 73-92% (7-13% RSD) and 71-89% (7-12% RSD), respectively. The methods were used for the determination of PAHs in aqueous and solid samples from the WWTP of Fusina (Venice, Italy). Mean concentrations, as the sum of the 16PAHs in aqueous and suspended solid samples, were found to be approx. in the 1.12-4.62 microg/L range. Sewage and stabilized sludge samples contained mean PAH concentrations, as sum of 16 compounds, in the concentration range of 1.44-1.26 mg/kg, respectively. Extraction and clean up procedures for sludge samples were validated using EPA certified reference material IRM-104 (CRM No. 912). Instrumental analyses were performed by coupling HPLC with UV-diode array detection (UV-DAD) and fluorescence detection (FLD).     

固相萃取/高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时检测环境水样中24种农药残留

建立了一种固相萃取/高效液相色谱-串联质谱(SPE/HPLC-MS/MS)同时检测水体中24种农药的分析方法。样品用乙腈提取后,经固相萃取小柱富集净化。以乙腈-0.1%(体积分数)甲酸水溶液为流动相梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源正离子模式下(ESI+)采用多反应监测(MRM)模式检测。结果显示,24种农药在1~200μg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系,相关系数(r2)均不小于0.998,水样中3个添加水平(5、20、100μg/L)下的回收率为65.9%~127.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.7%~14.2%;方法检出限为0.05~0.71 ng/L。采用该方法对大连地区10个河流入海口及2个水库的水样进行了检测,12个站位的样品中共检出10种农药,质量浓度为0.2~558.3 ng/L。结果表明,所建立的SPE/HPLC-MS/MS方法高效、灵敏、可靠,可用于实际水体中多种农药的同时检测。     

Comparison of different extraction methods for the determination of statin drugs in wastewater and river water by HPLC/Q-TOF-MS

Three preconcentration techniques including solid phase extraction (SPE), dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) have been optimized and compared for the analysis of six hypolipidaemic statin drugs (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin) in wastewater and river water samples by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Parameters that affect the efficiency of the different extraction methods such as solid phase material, sample pH and elution solvent in the case of SPE; the type and volume of the extracting and dispersive solvent, pH of sample, salt addition and number of extraction steps in the case of DLLME; and the stirring time, pH of sample, sample volume and salt addition for SBSE were evaluated. SPE allowed the best recoveries for most of the analytes. Pravastatin was poorly extracted by DLLME and could not be determined. SBSE was only applicable for lovastatin and simvastatin. However, despite the limitations of having poorer recovery than SPE, DLLME and SBSE offered some advantages because they are simple, require low organic solvent volumes and present low matrix effects. DLLME required less time of analysis, and for SBSE the stir-bar was re-usable. SPE, DLLME and SBSE provided method detection limits in the range of 0.04-11.2 ng L⁻¹, 0.10-17.0 ng L⁻¹ for 0.52-2.00 ng L⁻¹, respectively, in real samples. To investigate and compare their applicability, SPE, DLLME and SBSE procedures were applied to the detection of statin drugs in effluent wastewater and river samples.     

Optimisation of stir bar sorptive extraction for the analysis of volatile phenols in wines

An easy, fast and reliable analytical method is proposed for the determination of the concentration of volatile phenols (ethyl- and vinylphenols) in wines. The novel stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) technique is employed, following a simple and fast procedure that allows 15 samples to be extracted simultaneously using very small sample volume. Extracts are desorbed in a thermodesorption system (TDS) coupled on-line to a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry system. The SBSE offers better recovery and linear regression coefficient (r2) for the four volatile phenols than solid-phase extraction (SPE). The mass spectrometric detection in selected ion monitoring mode contributes to the lower detection limit and good sensibility obtained with this method.     

大体积搅拌棒吸附萃取技术与热脱附-气相色谱-质谱法测定地表水中多环芳烃

基于搅拌棒吸附萃取(SBSE)技术建立了气相色谱-质谱测定地表水中16种多环芳烃(PAHs)的分析方法。该法采用多搅拌吸附棒同时富集,依次热脱附冷聚焦后进样的方式有效解决了搅拌棒吸附时间长、富集水样体积小等问题。优化后的结果表明,在0.2~10 ng/L范围内(萘为0.5~10 ng/L范围),16种PAHs的线性关系良好,相关系数(r)均0.99,方法检出限(MDL)为0.03~0.20 ng/L(萘为0.50 ng/L)。用该方法对钱塘江流域地表水进行测定,共检测出11种PAHs,含量为0.13~1.57 ng/L,不同添加水平下的加标回收率为75.6%~108.9%。该法可应用于地表水样品中该类物质的超痕量检测。     

聚酰亚胺固相萃取搅拌棒的制备及其在环境水中酚类的分析应用

利用相转换法制备了聚酰亚胺吸附萃取搅拌棒,用5种有机酚作为评价标样,并与现有商品化吸附萃取搅拌棒进行比较。优化了萃取搅拌速度、溶液离子强度、萃取温度、萃取时间以及热解析温度和时间。在最佳实验条件下,100 mL 样品,30% NaCl,在25℃下,经活化5 min 后的聚酰亚胺吸附搅拌棒萃取30 min (800 r/ min),然后300℃热解析4 min,使目标物脱附,再进行色谱分析。目标物在大于两个数量级浓度范围内具有良好的线性(R≥0.9995),定量限(LOQ,S/ N=10)为0.028~0.123μg/ L,重复性为1.6%~9.7%。将SBSE 与气相色谱-质谱联用,对海水、自来水和污水中的酚类进行定性与定量分析,结果表明,聚酰亚胺吸附萃取搅拌棒具有良好的选择性,最高热解析温度350℃,在分析水中痕量极性化合物领域具有广阔应用前景。     

固相萃取液相色谱-质谱/质谱联用测定河水中大环内酯类抗生素

应用固相萃取（SPE）及LC—MS／MS技术,建立了水中痕量大环内酯类抗生素即红霉素、脱水红霉素、罗红霉素的分析方法,优化了固相萃取、液相色谱-质谱／质谱等相关条件。水样经HLB固相萃取柱富集净化,以多反应检测方式（MRM）对待测物进行定性和定量分析。3种抗生素在10-2000ng／L范围内具有良好的线性。其定量下限为5ng／L（S／N〉10）。加标纯水和实际水样的回收率在71％-111％之间,相对标准偏差（RSD）在3．7％-8．6％之间。该方法灵敏度高、选择性好、准确度高,适合实际水样中痕量大环内酯类药物的检测。使用该方法测得珠江广州河段某水样中红霉素、脱水红霉素和罗红霉素质量浓度分别为164、291和134ng／L。     

固相萃取-GC/MS法测定水样中20种有机氯农药

建立了用固相萃取小柱提取和净化、GC/MS定性定量同时测定水样中20种有机氯农药的方法。方法采用OasisHLB固相萃取小柱萃取富集水样,二氯甲烷洗脱,加入菲-d₁₀作为内标,利用GC/MS进行定性定量,步骤简便,线性响应良好,干扰小,方法检出限为0.21～0.72 ng/L（按水样1L计）,加标回收率为64.8%～122%,RSD为1.2%～11.0 %。成功利用该方法对广西实际河水样品进行了检测。结果表明方法可以同时满足环境水样中20种痕量有机氯农药的测定。     

Comprehensive analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater using stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

The objective of this study was the optimization and comparison of two extraction methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater (WW). A distribution study of the target compounds between the aqueous phase and the suspended particulate matter (SPM) has been performed in order to establish whether the analysis of both phases is necessary. In this sense, the feasibility of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the determination of 24 PAHs in WW samples has been evaluated. The results demonstrated the suitability of SBSE to perform a comprehensive analysis of liquid samples containing high amounts of SPM, such as in the determination of PAHs in WWs. A gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) method has been also optimized for the separation and detection of the target compounds, avoiding the co-elution of some groups of isomers, such as benzo[b], [j] and [k] fluoranthenes and indene[1,2,3-cd]pyrene/dibenz[a,h]anthracene. For that purpose, a specific capillary column developed for PAH determination was used. The SBSE procedure was validated and adequate parameters (such as recovery, linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification) were obtained. Finally, the validated method was applied to the analysis of real samples collected from an experimental WW treatment plant, detecting some PAHs at concentrations in the range 0.007-0.022 μg L(-1).     

固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用同时测定河水和海水中87种农药

采用固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用技术,建立了河水和海水中87种农药(24种有机磷、15种有机氯、12种唑类、9种拟除虫菊酯类、5种氨基甲酸酯类、7种酰胺类及15种其他新型农药)的多残留同时分析方法。优化了影响分离效果和灵敏度的仪器参数,考察了固相萃取柱柱型及水样体积、pH、盐度的影响,采用NH2柱优化了净化效果,内标法和替代物法用于数据的质量控制。结果表明: 在最佳条件下,各目标农药的方法检出限为0.1～6.6 ng/L;以实际河水和海水为基底,在5 ng/L和20 ng/L的加标水平下,绝大多数目标农药的回收率为60%～120%,相对标准偏差(n=4)为0.01%～9.7%。该法灵敏、准确,已成功地应用于福建九龙江河口区表层水样中多种类农药的复合污染监测,检出包括5种有机磷类、3种酰胺类、4种唑类、3种氨基甲酸酯类、2种拟除虫菊酯类等农药20种。     

Optimization of Polyurethane Foams for Enhanced Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction of Triazinic Herbicides in Water Matrices

In this work, polyurethane foams (PU) were developed, characterized and applied as new generation polymeric phases for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) using seven triazinic herbicides (simazine, atrazine, prometon, ametryn, propazine, prometryn and terbutryn) as model compounds in water matrices. Assays performed for PU synthesis and characterization demonstrated that seven formulations presented remarkable stability and excellent mechanical and chemical resistance, for which the P₆ formulation showed the best results. By performing systematic assays on 25 mL of water samples spiked at the 10 μg/L level, it was established that the best experimental conditions using stir bars coated with P₆ were an equilibrium time of 6 h (1250 rpm), 5% of methanol as organic modifier, followed by liquid desorption with methanol as back extraction solvent under ultrasonic treatment (20 min) and high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (SBSE(PU)-LD-HPLC-DAD). This methodology provided good recoveries (20.4-62.0%) and remarkable reproducibility (R.S.D. <7.0%). Furthermore, excellent linear dynamic ranges between 0.9 and 16.7 μg/L (r² > 0.9949) and detection limits (0.1-0.5 μg/L) at trace level were also achieved. The application of the proposed analytical approach to analyze triazinic herbicides in ground and superficial water matrices, showed remarkable performance and by using the standard addition methodology the matrix effects are negligible. By comparing the best PU formulation (P₆, 71 μL) with commercial stir bars coated with PDMS (126 μL), recoveries normalized to the polymeric volume up to five times higher (atrazine) were attained. The ability of PU foams to extract the more polar compounds rather than PDMS makes this polymer a very valuable contribution for SBSE.     

Capillary electrophoresis for analyzing pesticides in fruits and vegetables using solid-phase extraction and stir-bar sorptive extraction

Two procedures based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in combination with micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC)--diode array detection (DAD) were compared for the simultaneous extraction of acrinathrin, bitertanol, cyproconazole, fludioxonil, flutriafol, myclobutanil, pyriproxyfen, and tebuconazole in lettuce, tomato, grape, and strawberry. Selectivity and resolution of the MEKC procedure were studied changing the pH and the molarity of the buffer, the type and the concentration of surfactant, and the methanol content in the mobile phase. A buffer consisting of 6 mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate with 75 mM of cholic acid sodium solution (pH 9.2) gave the best results. Linearity, extraction efficiencies and limits of quantitation (LOQs) of both extraction methods were compared. The recoveries obtained by SPE ranged from 40 to 106% with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) from 10 to 19% whereas by the SBSE method, the recoveries were 12-47% and the R.S.D.s 3-17%. The LOQs were much better by SPE (0.2-0.5 mg kg(-1) depending on the processed sample amount) than those obtained by SBSE (1 mg kg(-1) for each compound). Advantages and disadvantages of both procedures are also discussed. As SPE is more robust, rapid, and sensitive than SBSE, its application in combination with MEKC is recommended because provided LOQs below the MRLs established, which is not always attained by SBSE.     

Comparative study of sample preparation methods; supported liquid membrane and solid phase extraction in the determination of benzimidazole anthelmintics in biological matrices by liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry

Supported liquid membrane (SLM) and solid phase extraction (SPE) have been applied as clean-up and/or enrichment techniques for a mixture of five benzimidazole anthelmintics compounds, namely albendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, and thiabendazole. Two biological matrices, mainly urine and milk, and ultra high purity (UHP) water were spiked with a mixture of these five compounds. Waters Oasis^® MCX and International Sorbent Technology (IST) HCX SPE sorbents were used. The liquid membrane used for clean-up and/or enrichment of these compounds was 5% tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in n-undecane/di-n-hexyl ether (1:1). The SLM extraction efficiencies and SPE percentage recoveries ranged between 60 and 100%. The detection limits (DLs) for different benzimidazole compounds by SPE/LC-ES-MS for thiabendazole, oxibendazole, and albendazole was 0.1 ng/L, for fenbendazole and mebendazole was 1 and 10 ng/L, respectively. Similarly, the detection limits of SLM/LC-ES-MS for thiabendazole, oxibendazole, and albendazole was 0.1 ng/L and for fenbendazole and mebendazole was 1 ng/L. The results of optimization of various parameters of the SLM method are reported.     

Mercury speciation and analysis in drinking water by stir bar sorptive extraction with in situ propyl derivatization and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for mercury analysis and speciation in drinking water was developed, which involved stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with in situ propyl derivatization and thermal desorption (TD)-GC-MS. Ten millilitre of tap water or bottled water was used. After a stir bar, pH adjustment agent and derivatization reagent were added, SBSE was performed. Then, the stir bar was subjected to TD-GC-MS. The detection limits were 0.01 ng mL(-1) (ethylmercury; EtHg), 0.02 ng mL(-1) (methylmercury; MeHg), and 0.2 ng mL(-1) (Hg(II) and diethylmercury (DiEtHg)). The method showed good linearity and correlation coefficients. The average recoveries of mercury species (n=5) in water samples spiked with 0.5, 2.0, and 6.0 ng mL(-1) mercury species were 93.1-131.1% (RSD<11.5%), 90.1-106.4% (RSD<7.8%), and 94.2-109.6% (RSD<8.8%), respectively. The method enables the precise determination of standards and can be applied to the determination of mercury species in water samples.     

The Use of Internal Surface Reversed-Phase Packing for the Solid Phase Extraction of Drugs from Serum

Abstract

The utilization of Internal Surface Reversed Phase (ISRP) packing as a solid phase extraction (SPE) matrix was investigated. Evaluation of the relative retention of nineteen medicinal agents on ISRP material was monitored using HPLC. The effects of altering pH and/or buffer concentration on retention were further studied using verapamil, phenelzine and tamoxifen as model compounds. Spiked serum samples containing the model compounds plus amitriptyline were also subjected to ISRP-SPE and HPLC. Verapamil, phenelzine, and tamoxifen were all strongly retained on ISPR as pH increased. The buffer concentration of the sample was not as critical on retention of these compounds as pH. Verapamil was quantitatively recovered from spiked serum samples (103 /pm 8.5%, n = 6), with a limit of detection of 10 ng/mL using fluorescent detection (γex = 280 nm, γem = 310 nm). Amitriptyline recovery was also quantitative (99.0/pm 5.3%, n = 6), and its limit of detection was 10 ng\mL employing short wavelength UV detection (γ = 214 nm). The ISRP packing as an SPE matrix failed to adequately disrupt the binding of either phenelzine or tamoxifen from serum proteins; therefore, recoveries of these compounds were poor (<50%). A comparison of ISRP to conventional C18 and C2 SPE columns indicated that the ISRP packing eliminated interferences as well or better than the conventional columns.     

Analysis of Polar Thermally Labile Pesticides using Different Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Materials with GC and HPLC Techniques

Abstract

In the present study, an efficient method for extraction, separation and determination of a limited number (30) of polar pesticides in aqueous matrices has been developed. Pesticides were extracted with high recoveries (usually >85%) from 1 L water samples, using the solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique. Affinities to different SPE materials (C-18 and XAD resins) have been studied for all pesticides. Special attention has been paid to the following 5 pesticides (which have classified by the EC as compounds which are particularly difficult to analyse): benazolia, bromofenoxim, ethofumesate, fenamiphos and phenmediphain. Thermally labile compounds have been determined with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV detection in comparison to TSP-LC-MS. Absolute limits of detection (LODs) for the HPLC technique are usually below 1 ng at 220 nm. Thermospray LC-MS determination shows usually limits of detection of 1-10 ng (SCAN) and 60-800 pg (SIM). All pesticides, which are amenable to GC have been detected in a comparative study with the following detectors: flame ionization detector (FID), nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), electron capture detector (ECD) and atomic emission detector (AED). Element-specific detection of various functional groups of these pesticides has been achieved using GC-AED. Thus, while the FID has the lowest specificity, the AED is the most specific detector. LODs are usually < 300 pg (FID < 20 pg, NPD < 1 pg, ECD < 1 pg, AED < 300 pg). Spiked river water samples (from the River Leine and River Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany) have been used to test the employed method. With the spiked surface water samples recoveries were usually >80%.     

Fast and Selective Determination of Pesticides in Water by Automated On-Line Solid Phase Extraction Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An automated on line-solid phase extraction (SPE) liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of 17 polar pesticides in water. Minimizing sample pretreatment and using a fast chromatographic separation, the method allowed a sample to be processed in 15 minutes. The MS analysis was performed by Data Dependent Acquisition, using the triggered Multiple Reaction Mode function that provided analyte confirmation, thus enhancing selectivity without compromising sensitivity. In fact, the optimized method enabled the determination of the considered pesticides at the ultratrace level, with detection limits in the range 0.07–1.65 ng/L (propazine and atrazine-desisopropyl, respectively); the only exception was linuron that showed a slightly higher detection limit (12.2 ng/L). The optimized method was then applied to real water samples; five pesticides were determined in river water, in the range 1.17–14.2 ng/L, while four were measured in drinking water, in the range 0.91–2.25 ng/L.