Determination of benzothiazoles from complex aqueous samples by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry following solid-phase extraction

A method was developed for the determination of benzothiazoles from municipal wastewater, which may originate from their use as corrosion inhibitors, vulcanization accelerators or fungicides. Extraction is performed by SPE using a polymeric sorbent, followed by LC–MS analysis with electrospray ionization. Due to the diversity of the analytes, two LC–MS runs are required: 2-aminobenzothiazole, benzothiazole and 2-methylthiobenzothiazole are detected in the positive ion mode, while benzothiazole-2-sulfonic acid (BTSA), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and 2-hydroxybenzothiazole are determined in the negative ion mode. Limits of quantification range from 20 to 200 ng/L in treated wastewater. Reliable quantification with R.S.D.s below 25% is achieved by standard addition in a limited number of samples of each sample series. A significant reduction of matrix effects in positive electrospray ionization is achieved by reducing the flow directed into the ESI-interface. When applied to untreated municipal wastewater most analytes were found at concentrations in the high ng/L- to low μg/L-range with the most polar BTSA being the dominant compound of this class. Removal of benzothiazoles in biological wastewater treatment appears to be limited.