Determination of quaternary ammonium biocides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In this study we have developed a method for the direct determination of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) homologues and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDMAC), generally used as biocides. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Luna C18 column and gradient elution. A 50 mM formic acid-ammonium formate buffer at pH 3.5 was used as aqueous phase to allow ion-pair formation with the quaternary ammonium biocides. The detection was carried out using an ion trap mass analyser and electrospray ionisation (ESI) source. Parameters such as the magnitude and duration of the resonant excitation voltage and the magnitude of the trapping RF voltage for full scan tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) experiments were studied to establish the optimal experimental conditions. Instrumental quality parameters of both liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and LC-MS-MS methods were studied and good run-to-run and day-to-day precision values (relative standard deviations, RSDs lower than 11%) and LODs down to 0.1 microg L(-1) (LC-MS-MS) were obtained. Finally, the applicability of the LC-MS-MS method was demonstrated by analysis of a spiked water sample and some commercial products containing BAC.