Rapid screening of triazines and quantitative determination in drinking water

A sensitive, rapid and inexpensive analysis method has been developed for the triazines most frequently used in Palestine; the method includes fluorodensitometric screening and densitometric determination of the individual substances. Terbutryn as a model substance was derivatized with dansyl chloride in sodium hydrogen-carbonate or phosphate buffer solution to yield a green-blue fluorescent compound. Derivatization occurred at 120 degreesC within maximum of 10-min reaction time. The fluorescent compound formed was separated from excess reagent and other by-products on silica gel TLC plates and was then determined fluorodensitometrically. A linearity range between 20 and 1200 pg/spot was achieved. The method was also applied to other triazine herbicides such as ametryn, atrazine, propazine, terbuthylazine and simazine. Drinking water samples spiked with triazines were extracted using RP-C 18 polar plus cartridges, and the extract could be then dansylated as a total. Recoveries were between 88% and 95%; the detection limit was 10 pg/spot and could be further improved to 2 pg/spot by a dipping solution. For quantification, each of the six triazines can be separated on one of three different stationary phases after solid phase extraction and measured densitometrically. The LOD for each individual triazine was 100 ng/l. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.