GC-MS analysis of dichlobenil and its metabolites in groundwater

We have developed a new method for the determination of the widely used herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) and its major metabolites 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) and 2,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (2,6-DCBA) in groundwater samples. The procedure is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) combined with a derivatization procedure before GC-MS analysis in order to quantify analytes simultaneously. This method can be used from regulatory laboratories for monitoring the presence of dichlobenil and its metabolites during testing groundwater samples quality.