Quantification of 3-(2-Hydroxypropyl)-5-methyl-2-oxazolidinone in Groundwater and Sludge by Isotope Dilution Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 682 - 685
• Main Authors: Howald, William N, Porubek, David J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.04.1994
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Groundwater; Ions; Mass spectrometry; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Scientific imaging; Water treatment and pollution; Water; Gas chromatography; Chemical analysis; Coupled method; Internal standard; Isotope dilution; Mud; Organic carbamate; Mass spectrometry; Ground water; Oxygen nitrogen heterocycle
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es00053a023

An automated gas chromatographic/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) assay is described for 3-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methyl-2-oxazolidinone (HPMO), the cyclic carbamate degradation product of di-2-propanolamine (DIPA). Quantitative analysis of extracted water and sludge samples was performed on the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of HPMO by selected ion monitoring (SIM) GC/MS using an HP 5790A MSD quadrupole mass spectrometer, monitoring the [M - CO sub(2)] super(.+) ion species. The method, incorporating [ super(15)N]HPMO as an internal standard, exhibited good accuracy and precision, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.996 for all standard curves and with practical limits of quantification and detection of 0.010 and 0.001 mu g/mL, respectively. Replicate analyses of prepared control water samples over a 6-month period demonstrated an inter-day variation of less than 7%. The high reproducibility and stability of the assay, combined with its low sample volume requirement (0.1-2.0 mL) make the method well suited for both biological degradation studies and environmental determinations.