GC–MS analysis of dichlobenil and its metabolites in groundwater

We have developed a new method for the determination of the widely used herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) and its major metabolites 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) and 2,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (2,6-DCBA) in groundwater samples. The procedure is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) combined with a derivatization procedure before GC–MS analysis in order to quantify analytes simultaneously. This method can be used from regulatory laboratories for monitoring the presence of dichlobenil and its metabolites during testing groundwater samples quality.