Triclosan determination in water related to wastewater treatment

Triclosan in the waste, river and sea water samples collected in Hong Kong was analyzed by using gas chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry method. 13C12-triclosan was used as internal standard for the quantitative analysis. Water samples were prepared and cleaned-up by using a C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge. The recoveries of triclosan in spiked coastal water at three different concentrations ranged from 83 to 110%. The method detection limit was 0.25 ng/L for triclosan in 1-L water and the relative standard deviations and relative error were less than 11.0 and 12.3%, respectively (n = 3). The method was successfully applied to analyze water samples collected from rivers, coastal water bodies and wastewater treatment plants at ng/L levels.