Analysis of antifouling biocides Irgarol 1051 and Sea Nine 211 in environmental water samples using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography

This study develops a method for the analysis of biocides Irgarol 1051 and Sea Nine 211 in environmental water samples, using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Their determination was carried out using gas chromatography with flame thermionic (FTD), electron-capture (ECD) and mass spectrometric detection. The main parameters affecting the SPME process such as adsorption–time profile, salt additives and memory effect were studied for five polymeric coatings commercially available for solid-phase microextraction: poly(dimethylsiloxane) (100 and 30 μm), polyacrylate, poly(dimethylsiloxane)–divinylbenzene (PDMS–DVB 65 μm) and Carbowax–divinylbenzene (65 μm). The method was developed using spiked natural waters such as tap, river, sea and lake water in a concentration range of 0.5–50 μg/l. All the tested fiber coatings have been evaluated with regard to sensitivity, linear range, precision and limits of detection. Typical RSD values (triplicate analysis) in the range of 3–10% were obtained depending on the fiber coating and the compound investigated. The recoveries of biocides were in relatively high levels 60–118% and the calibration curves were reproducible and linear (R2>0.990) for both analytes. The SPME partition coefficients (Kf) of both compounds were also calculated experimentally in the proposed conditions for all fibers using direct sampling. Finally the influence of organic matter such as humic acids on extraction efficiency was studied, affecting mostly Sea Nine 211 uptake by the fiber. Optimum analytical SPME performance was achieved using the PDMS–DVB 65 μm fiber coating in ECD and FTD systems for Sea Nine 211 and Irgarol 1051, respectively.