DETERMINATION OF LINEAR ALKYLBENZENESULFONATES AND DIALKYLTETRALINSULFONATES IN WATER AND SEDIMENT BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A method for the determination of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) and dialkyitetralinsuifonates (DATS) in water and sediment samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is described. Sulfonates are converted to their trlfluoro sulfonate derivatives In a two-step derivatization procedure. in the first step the sulfonates are converted to their sulfonyl chlorides by treatment with phosphorus pentachloride and then after extraction converted to their corresponding trifluoroethyl derivatives by the addition of trifluoro-ethanol. Quantitation is by an Internal standard technique. In this work a C, dialkyltetralinsulfonate internal standard was used as the internal standard. The derivatization GC/MS method permits the detection and quantitation of LAS and DATS, which are minor components present in LAS. The limit of detection for both LAS and DATS in water by electron capture negative chemical ionization GC/MS is estimated to be 0.001 mg/L and In sediment 0.5 mg/kg for LAS and 0.2 mg/kg for DATS. Enhanced sensitivity and selectivity due to GC/MS permit the determination of LAS and DATS, at the low concentrations encountered in environmental samples. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.