Solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry for the determination of the adsorption coefficients of triazines in soil

Solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was used to determine the adsorption coefficients (K-oc) for six target triazines in soil and sediment samples with different organic matter contents and textures. SPME-GC-MS was used in conjunction with a conventional batch equilibrium method. The recoveries of the selected triazines from soils and sediments having organic carbon contents in the range 0.2-2.4% were satisfactory. Drawbacks of conventional analytical techniques are avoided; owing to the selectivity of SPIME-GC-MS, no sample pre-treatment or solvent enrichment steps were required so that K-oc values could be easily determined. Moreover, the sensitivity of the technique makes it possible to work at low triazine concentrations (50-500 ng g(-1)) where the Freundlich adsorption isotherm can be considered linear.