Analytical method for perchlorate in water by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using an ion exchange column.

A practical analytical method was developed for the routine analysis of perchlorate in environmental and drinking-water samples by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) using an anion exchange column. By using (18)O-enriched perchlorate as an internal standard, the limits of quantification of perchlorate determined by tenfold of the signal-to-noise ratio and tenfold of the standard deviation were 0.1 and 0.03 microg L(-1), respectively. The perchlorate concentrations in the raw and finished water samples from seven water purification plants were determined by LC/ESI-MS. Perchlorate was detected in 12 out of 13 samples, and the perchlorate concentrations in the samples were from 0.1 to 36.1 microg L(-1).