New and simple method for the analysis of the glutathione adduct of atrazine

Abstract A specific and simple protocol for the preparation, separation, identification and quantitation of glutathione (GSH) conjugates is often not available, despite the role of these compounds as an important pathway of contaminant transformation. Here, a new method is reported for the analysis of the glutathione adduct of atrazine (GSHA) in bacterial samples. The compound was synthesised by modifying a previously described procedure, isolated by Isolute-ENV + solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns containing crosslinked polymer (styrene–divinylbenzene) phase, identified and quantified by capillary zone electrophoresis with UV detection and characterised by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. A very good recovery on bacterial samples was obtained by the same SPE method used for the preparation of the standard compound.