Simultaneous quantitation of sixteen organochlorine pesticides in drinking waters using automated solid-phase extraction, high-volume injection, high-resolution gas chromatography.

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of sixteen organochlorine pesticides in drinking water using automated solid-phase extraction followed by high-volume (80 microliters) capillary column gas chromatography using electron capture detection. The fully automated extraction method followed by high-volume injection permits rapid sample analysis compared to previously described procedures since no further pre-concentration of the analytes is necessary after they have been eluted from the octadecyl solid-phase extraction cartridge. The lowest detectable concentrations of the pesticides are between 1-5 ng l(-1), relative recoveries range from 92-105% in tap water spiked at 100 ng l(-1) and the relative standard deviations are in the range 5-12%.