Preconcentration of triazine herbicides from water by an ion chromatography column and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The efficiency of ion chromatography columns packed with styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer containing quaternary ammonium groups to preconcentrate triazine herbicides and their degradation products below μg/l levels has been established. Retention is studied for different types of water. Pure methanol was used in a one-step elution. Enrichment factors of at least 4000 are achieved. Determination was carried out by using gas chromatography-single-ion monitoring mass spectrometry. Recoveries for run-off agricultural water were between 67–100% and close to 100% for ground water. The maximum admissible concentration ion drinking water (0.1 μg/l) and the alert and alarm threshold values in surface water (1 and 3 μg/l, respectively) dictated by the European Union can be measured.