Abstract
A highly sensitive analytical method of epichlorohydrin (ECH, 1-chloro-2,3-epoxyethane) using derivatization, solidphase extraction, and liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry was applied to river and sea waters. The aminolysis reaction of 3,5-difluorobenzylamine with ECH was effective as derivatization. The derivative obtained was enriched by solid-phase extraction and quantitated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The reaction of derivatization and preparation of solutions of volatile ECH were optimized. Method detection limit (MDL) was determined by the examination of fortified environmental samples. The MDL of ECH was 0.003 μg/L for actual environmental samples spiked at 0.03 μg/L (the detection limit, prescribd by analytical method of Monitoring Substances in water environment). The recovery of ECH was over 90% (n =7). ECH was detected in only one station out of 20 in Osaka city rivers and estuaries at a concentration of 0.2 μg/L.
