DETERMINATION OF THE ETHANESULFONATE METABOLITE OF ALACHLOR IN WATER BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A high-performance liquid chromatography method for the analysis of 2-[(2,6-diethylphenyl)(methoxy-methyl)amino]-2-oxoethanesulfonic acid, a major soil metabolite of alachlor, in groundwater and surface water is presented. Extraction of the metabolite from water was accomplished by passing 100 mL through a C18 cartridge. Separation was performed on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 (50/50). Detection was at 205 nm. Mean recoveries of the ethane-sulfonate from fortified surface water and groundwater ranged from 93 to 100%. This alachlor metabolite was detected and quantified in nonfortified water from Ohio and Indiana and confirmed using ultraviolet spectra and LC/MS/MS.