Trace-level determination of benzidine and 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine in aqueous environmental samples by online solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A simple, rapid, and reliable online methodology for the determination of benzidine and 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine (3,3′-DCB) in natural waters is proposed. The analytes are extracted and preconcentrated from aqueous samples in a small stainless steel precolumn packed with a polymeric PLRP-S phase. The precolumn is further online-analyzed by reversed-phase gradient-elution chromatography with a highly sensitive and selective coulometric detection at E = 700 mV. Recoveries greater than 90% and a relative standard deviation of approximately 5% are achieved with samples spiked at low micrograms-per-liter concentration levels. The detection limits of the method in fortified reagent water samples are 100 ng/L for benzidine and 50 ng/L for 3,3′-DCB.