Analysis of 9 Haloacetic Acids in Tap Water Using the LCMS-8040 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Introduction

Haloacetic acids are produced as byproducts of chlorination during water treatment purification processes. Three haloacetic acids are subject to tap water quality standards with established limits, monochloroacetic acid (MCAA: 0.02 mg/L), dichloroacetic acid (DCAA: 0.04 mg/L), and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA: 0.2 mg/L). Historically, methods for determination of haloacetic acids required solvent extraction and methylation with diazomethane followed by GC/MS analysis. However, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Notification No. 66, 2012, recently specified LC/MS (/ MS) as a new, alternative analytical method for haloacetic acids. Since LC/MS (/MS) analysis permits direct sample injection without the necessity for solvent extraction and derivatization as required by the GC/MS method, a significant improvement in laboratory efficiency can be expected. In accordance with the method specified for LC/MS (/MS) analysis, simultaneous determination of the three specified targets in a water quality standard, together with six bromine-containing haloacetic acids, was conducted for a total of nine substances. The instrument used for analysis was the LCMS-8040 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

May 22, 2013 GMT