We attempted to develop a direct-injection liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) for quantifying chloral hydrate in tap water, for which gas chromatography has been commonly used. Formic acid and acetonitrile were used as the mobile phase, and the adduct ions [M + HCOO⁻ formed by the interaction between the formate ions and chloral hydrate were detected using the LC/ESI-MS/MS method. Under these conditions, a simultaneous analytical method was established for chloral hydrate and three haloacetic acids, the latter of which are Japanese drinking water quality standard items. A spike and recovery test of the tap water dechlorinated with sodium thiosulfate indicated 88–105 % recovery rates for all components.

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