Improved derivatization technique for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry determination of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in drinking water

The quantification of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (Mutagen X or MX) in drinking water is difficult due to the low concentration of MX in drinking water, its high sensitivity to pH change, and matrix effects that interfere with the derivatization and analysis. Typically, the quantification of MX involves derivatization by methylation. We present a one-step derivatization procedure for MX using N-methyl-bis-trifluoroacetamide (MBTFA) and analysis by ion trap GC/MS/MS. The new method resulted in a significant reduction in analysis time, and improved detection limits. The abundant and selective ions in the mass spectrum of the trifluoroacylated MX (trifluoroacetic acid-4-chloro-3-dichloromethyl-5-oxo-2-hydro-furan-2-yl ester) allowed for a clear identification and quantification of the compound, with a method detection limit of 7.7 ng L−1, and a limit of quantitation of 24.4 ng L−1. The trifluoroacylated MX was shown to be stable for 30 days in an excess of the derivatization reagent. The new method was applied for the determination of MX in several drinking water samples, with a concentration range from not-detected to 517 ng L−1; these values are comparable to those obtained in previous studies. The development of this new simplified analytical method for MX is an important step forward in the field of disinfection by-product (DBP) research, particularly in light of the recent scientific recognition of halogenated furanones as emerging drinking water contaminants. Increased analytical ability may well be a decisive factor in the monitoring of these disinfection by-products.