Matrix effects in the gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of brominated analogues of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone

Brominated analogues (BMXs) of the strong drinking water mutagen MX (3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone) were found to be subject to strong matrix induced chromatographic response enhancement effects. We evaluated different ways to reduce errors in quantification including comparison of gas chromatographic inlet systems, improved clean up of sample extracts, and preparation of calibration standards in the sample matrix. The best quantitative accuracy and long term performance were achieved when the calibration standards were prepared in sample matrix, samples were cleaned up with C18-resin in conjunction with solid phase extraction (SPE) with Oasis HLB cartridges, and gas chromatography with PTV splitless injection was used. This method enables the determination of MX and BMXs from 500 ml water sample with quantitation limits of 1 ng/l or less.