Determination of selected antifouling booster biocides by high-performance liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid technique is described for the quantitative determination of four antifouling booster biocides [diuron, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothazolin-3-one (Kathon 5287), (2-thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB) and (2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-methylsulphonyl) (TCMS pyridine) in aqueous samples. The analytes were extracted with high recoveries (ca 100+/-similar to 15%) from 2.7-1 water samples, using C-18 solid-phase extraction. Sample extracts were quantitatively analysed by reversed-phase HPLC and polarity switching atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) MS using selective ion monitoring. Limits of detection for the four compounds were: diuron, 1 ng/l, Kathon 5287, 1 ng/l, TCMTB, 1 ng/l and TCMS pyridine, 5 ng/l. Analysis of samples collected from various UK marinas showed detectable concentrations of diuron to be present, however, concentrations of other three booster biocides were below their respective limit of detection. Crown Copyright (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.