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Structural elucidation of disinfection by‐products in treated drinking water
Author(s) -
Taguchi Vince Y.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.253
Subject(s) - chemistry , electron ionization , mass spectrum , mass spectrometry , fragmentation (computing) , ion , reagent , tandem mass spectrometry , chemical ionization , gas chromatography , ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , organic chemistry , computer science , operating system
Two unusual disinfection by‐products have been detected periodically in the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization analyses of semi‐volatile organics in treated drinking water. The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra contained mono‐chlorinated and mono‐brominated ions at m/z 107/109 and 151/153, respectively. Library searching techniques suggested mono‐halogenated butanol structures but no matches could be found. Positive ion chemical ionization (CI) spectra contained mono‐chlorinated and mono‐brominated ions at m/z 105/107 and 149/151, respectively. No [M + H] + ions were initially observed. Accurate mass measurements confirmed the empirical formulae for the significant ions in the EI spectra and the mono‐halogenated butanol structures. Further CI experiments with other reagent gases and instruments revealed possible molecular weights of 139 and 183 Da, respectively. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments in EI and CI were used to elucidate the fragmentation schemes. The two compounds have been tentatively identified as 1‐aminoxy‐1‐chlorobutan‐2‐ol and 1‐aminoxy‐1‐bromobutan‐2‐ol, respectively. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.