Optimisation of alachlor solid-phase microextraction from water samples using experimental design

We have tested screening and response surface experimental designs to optimise the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of the widely used herbicide alachlor. Extraction time and sample volume were the only statistically significant factors from those studied. In the final optimised conditions the procedure was applied to the SPME–HPLC analysis of alachlor in spiked water samples with excellent figures of merit.