Application of solid-phase extraction membrane disks in the determination of haloacetic acids in water by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas-Chromatography (GC) coupled with an electron capture detector (ECD) is the technique which is most used to determine haloacetic acids (HAAs), but when chlorinated waters are analysed, many other compounds can give signals and identification can be difficult. In this paper a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system for determining these compounds has been used to improve identification. To reach the levels of HAAs specified by regulations a preconcentration step must be applied before chromatographic analysis. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been studied in order to improve the detection limits of these compounds in water samples. The use of SPE, prior to GC enabled the haloacetic compounds to be determinated at μg L−1 levels. The performance of the method with different tap water samples and the effect of chlorination in different treatment plants have been evaluated.