Separation and detection of herbicides in water by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

The herbicides linuron, metolachlor, atrazine and metsulfuron were analysed using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) after a 1000-fold concentration step by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Recoveries ranged from 80 to 92%, depending on the concentration and the number of active substances in the sample. Furthermore, the hydrolysis products of metsulfuron were analysed by MECC and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Representative MECC and GC-MS profiles are shown and the structures of the hydrolysis products are proposed on the basis of their chromatographic and mass spectra features. A tentative pathway for the degradation of metsulfuron is proposed.