ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY COMPARED WITH GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRIAZINE HERBICIDES IN WATER

An enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure for the analysis of triazine herbicides and their metabolites In surface water and groundwater. Apparent recoveries from natural water and spiked water by both methods were comparable at 0.2-2 µg/L. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was examined also, and recoveries were determined for a suite of triazine herbicides. A significant correlation was obtained between the ELISA and GC/MS method for natural water samples that were extracted by SPE. Because ELISA was developed with an atrazlne-llke compound as the hapten with conjugation at the 2-position, It was selective for triazines that contained both ethyl and Isopropyl side chains. Concentrations for 50% Inhibition (ICgg) were as follows: atrazlne, 0.4 µ/L; ametryne, 0.45 µ/L; prometryn and propazlne, 0.5 µ/L; prometen, 0.7 µ/L; slmazlne and terbutryn, 2.5 µ/L; hydroxyatrazlne, 28 µ/; deethylatrazlne and delsopropylatrazlne, 30 µ/L; cyanazlne, 40 µ/L; dkfealkylatrazlne had no response. The combination of screening analysis by ELISA, which requires no sample preparation and works on 180 µof sample, and confirmation by GC/MS was designed for rapid, Inexpensive analysis of triazine herbicides In water. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.