Simultaneous determination of acidic,neutral and basic pharmaceuticals in urban wastewater by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this work, an ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of the 20 most consumed pharmaceuticals in Spain in urban wastewater and surface water samples. The scope of the method included acidic, neutral and basic compounds belonging to different therapeutic classes and allows their simultaneous determination in just a single injection, giving realistic information of the most widely consumed pharmaceuticals in only one analysis. An enrichment step based on solid-phase extraction using Oasis HLB cartridges was carried out, followed by UHPLC-MS/MS measurement with a fast-acquisition triple quadrupole mass analyzer. It allowed working with short dwell times and made possible to acquire three simultaneous SRM transitions per compound to assure a reliable identification. Several isotope-labelled internal standards were used as surrogates to correct SPE losses, as well as matrix effects that notably affect quantification of analytes. The method was validated in surface water and effluent and influent urban wastewater at different concentrations from 0.005 μg/L (surface water) to 1.25 μg/L (influent wastewater). The optimized method was applied to the analysis of 84 urban wastewater samples (influent and effluent), with the result that 17 out of 20 compounds monitored were detected in the samples. Analgesics and anti-inflamatories, cholesterol lowering statin drugs and lipid regulators were the major groups found, with diclofenac, ketoprofen, naproxen, 4-aminoantipyrine, bezafibrate, gemfibrozil and venlafaxine being the most frequently detected. The highest concentration level reached was 277 μg/L for salicylic acid in influent wastewater.     

Quantification of human pharmaceuticals in water samples by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

An improved analytical method for determination of human pharmaceuticals in natural and wastewaters with ng L⁻¹ sensitivity is presented. The method is applicable to pharmaceuticals from a wide range of therapeutic classes including antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatories and anti-cancer compounds. Pharmaceuticals were extracted from waters using solid-phase extraction, and after concentration, analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS/MS). Identification of each compound was secured using retention time and by the selected reaction monitoring of two transitions, one of which was additionally used for quantification. Limits of detection ranged from 0.03 to 0.96 ng L⁻¹ and were up to two orders of magnitude lower than those of previously published methods. The method was validated using spiked samples prepared from tap, river and sea water as well as wastewater effluents, collected from the North of Scotland. Analysis of wastewater effluents revealed the presence of mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, erythromycin, diclofenac and trimethoprim. None of the selected pharmaceuticals were detected in river, tap or sea water samples.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定制药废水中10种抗生素

建立了一种同时测定制药废水中3类10种抗生素的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。水样用固相萃取柱富集净化,通过比较在不同的固相萃取柱和洗脱液等条件下水样中目标物的回收率,优化了前处理方法。采用Agilent C18色谱柱(75 mm×2.1 mm, 2.7 μm),以0.2%(v/v)甲酸水溶液和乙腈为梯度洗脱的流动相,在电喷雾-多反应监测模式下进行定性定量分析。实验结果表明:在0.1~1000 μg/L范围内,6种氨基糖苷类抗生素、螺旋霉素及3种氟喹诺酮类抗生素的峰面积与质量浓度的线性关系良好(r² > 0.995),方法检出限为0.07~4.37 ng/L,定量限为0.22~14.55 ng/L;目标抗生素的加标水平为0.002~40 μg/L时,平均回收率为50.4%~114.1%,相对标准偏差均不高于9.89%(n=3)。基于上述方法,对江苏省某制药厂废水中相关物质进行检测,在各废水处理单元中检出3种目标抗生素,质量浓度范围为0.46~1033.60 μg/L。该方法准确可靠、灵敏度高,适用于制药厂废水中氨基糖苷类抗生素、螺旋霉素和氟喹诺酮类抗生素的检测。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定土壤中30种抗生素

土壤基质复杂,土壤中残留的抗生素种类繁多,浓度多为痕量水平,高灵敏度的仪器方法、有效的净化和富集方法、多种类抗生素的同时检测是土壤中抗生素检测的重点和难点.该研究建立了固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定土壤中7类(磺胺类、氟喹诺酮类、四环素类、大环内酯类、β-内酰胺类、酰胺醇类和林可酰胺类)30种抗生素的方法...     

固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定环境水样中22种抗生素

抗生素作为环境介质中一种典型的新污染物,在各类环境水样中检出频率高且浓度低。为快速、灵敏、准确地分析各类水体中的抗生素,建立了固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(SPE-HPLC-MS/MS)同时测定环境水样中4种青霉素类、12种喹诺酮类和6种大环内酯类共22种抗生素的分析方法。针对抗生素特性和样品基质特点优化前处理方法,重点优化固相萃取柱、水样pH值、水样中乙二胺四乙酸二钠(Na₂EDTA)加入量。在200 mL水样中加入0.5 g Na₂EDTA,并调节水样的pH值至3,经HLB固相萃取柱富集净化,以乙腈-0.15%(v/v)甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,采用电喷雾电离源,在正离子模式下使用多反应监测模式进行定性定量分析。结果显示,22种抗生素的相关系数(r)≥0.995,呈现良好的线性关系,方法检出限和定量限分别为2.3~10.7 ng/L和9.2~42.8 ng/L,地表水中3个水平下的加标回收率为61.2%~157%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.0%~21.9%,废水中3个水平下的加标回收率为50.1%~129%, RSD为1.2%~16.9%。该方法成功用于水库、地表水、污水处理厂出口、畜禽养殖场等不同类型水样中抗生素的同时测定,其中地表水和畜禽养殖废水中大部分抗生素有检出,在地表水中林可霉素检出率为90%,在畜禽养殖废水中氧氟沙星的检出含量最高,为127 ng/L。该方法检出限和回收率满足定量分析要求,且具有富集水样体积少、分析时间短、适用范围广等优势,特别适用于突发环境污染应急监测,同时为摸清新污染物环境赋存底数和新污染物治理与管控提供有力支撑。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时检测地表水中18种药物与个人护理品的残留量

采用固相萃取对水样进行预处理,建立了同时检测地表水中包括抗生素、β-阻滞剂、驱蚊剂、抗癫痫药、中枢神经兴奋剂、血脂调节剂、非甾体抗炎药、杀菌消毒剂在内的18种药物与个人护理品的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。采用中性条件萃取水样,控制上样流速为2 mL/min,用甲醇-乙腈(1:1, v/v)溶液洗脱。纯水中的平均加标回收率为53.9%～112%,相对标准偏差为2.6%～15.3%(n=6);以地表水样加标100 ng/L为样品,目标分析物平均回收率为45.1%～156.6%,相对标准偏差为2.4%～15.7%(n=6)。结果表明,本方法可同时精确检测地表水样中的18种分析物,方法验证结果表明所建立的方法可靠。用该方法分析杭州余杭塘河水,结果检出9种分析物,其中咖啡因平均质量浓度达550.7 ng/L。结果表明该方法可靠。     

Feasibility of ultra-high performance liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for accurate determination of primary and secondary phthalate metabolites in urine samples

Phthalates (PAEs) are ubiquitous toxic chemical compounds. During the last few years, some phthalate metabolites (MPAEs) have been proposed as appropriate biomarkers in human urine samples to determine PAE human intake and exposure. So, it is necessary to have fast, easy, robust and validated analytical methods to determine selected MPAEs in urine human samples. Two different instrumental methods based on gas (GC) and ultra-high performance liquid (UHPLC) chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) have been optimized, characterized and validated for the simultaneous determination of nine primary and secondary phthalate metabolites in urine samples. Both instrumental methods have similar sensitivity (detection limits ranged from 0.03 to 8.89 pg μL⁻¹ and from 0.06 to 0.49 pg μL⁻¹ in GC–MS and UHPLC–MS², respectively), precision (repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, which was lower than 8.4% in both systems, except for 5OH-MEHP in the case of GC–MS) and accuracy. But some advantages of the UHPLC–MS² method, such as more selectivity and lower time in the chromatographic runs (6.8 min vs. 28.5 min), have caused the UHPLC–MS² method to be chosen to analyze the twenty one human urine samples from the general Spanish population. Regarding these samples, MEP showed the highest median concentration (68.6 μg L⁻¹), followed by MiBP (23.3 μg L⁻¹), 5cx-MEPP (22.5 μg L⁻¹) and MBP (19.3 μg L⁻¹). MMP (6.99 μg L⁻¹), 5oxo-MEHP (6.15 μg L⁻¹), 5OH-MEHP (5.30 μg L⁻¹) and MEHP (4.40 μg L⁻¹) showed intermediate levels. Finally, the lowest levels were found for MBzP (2.55 μg L⁻¹). These data are within the same order of magnitude as those found in other similar populations.     

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for comprehensive analysis of urinary acylcarnitines

We report an enabling mass spectrometric method for the analysis of lipid metabolites in order to define better the lipid metabolome in terms of chemical diversity and generate fragment ion spectra of these metabolites as a potential resource for unknown metabolite identification. This work focuses on the analysis of one important class of lipid metabolites, the acylcarnitines. Current analytical methods have only detected and identified a limited number of these metabolites. The method described herein provides the most comprehensive acylcarnitine profile in urine of healthy individuals up to date. It involves an optimized solid phase extraction technique for selective analyte extraction using cartridges containing both lipophilic and cation-exchange properties. The captured analytes are then subjected to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) separation, followed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis using information-dependent acquisitions and selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The urine of six healthy individuals was analyzed using this method. A total of 355 acylcarnitines were detected; only 43 of them have been previously reported in the urine of healthy individuals. Detection of this large number of acylcarnitines illustrates the great diversity of the lipid metabolome as well as the usefulness of the method for profiling acylcarnitines. Furthermore, the MS/MS spectra of the 355 acylcarnitines will be uploaded to a public human metabolome database as a mass spectrometric resource for unknown metabolite identification.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定浓缩果汁中噻菌灵和多菌灵的残留量

建立了同时测定浓缩果汁中噻菌灵和多菌灵残留的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱快速检测法。样品用乙酸乙酯提取,以ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18色谱柱(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)进行超高效液相色谱分离,以电喷雾电离串联质谱正离子多反应监测(MRM)模式进行测定,以基质匹配标准溶液外标法定量。结果表明:在试验条件下,噻菌灵和多菌灵在0.5~10 μg/kg范围内线性关系良好,相关系数大于0.99,不同基质中的检出限(S/N=3)范围为0.12~0.23 μg/kg。在0.5、1.0和5.0 μg/kg 3个水平下噻菌灵和多菌灵的加标回收率为76.98%~108.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.95%~9.99%。同时,本研究对浓缩果汁中噻菌灵和多菌灵残留检测的基质效应进行了考察。本方法具有操作简便、快速、准确的特点,可用于浓缩果汁中噻菌灵和多菌灵残留量的日常检测。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱快速测定食品中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱快速筛查和确证食品中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜的方法。样品经甲醇-水（50：50,v/v）超声提取,离心,取上清液过滤膜。采用Agilent SB-C18（150 mm×2.1 mm,5 μm）色谱柱分离,梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源的正离子电离模式下,用多反应监测（MRM）方式采集数据,根据保留时间和定性离子对进行定性筛查,根据峰面积和定量离子进行定量分析。结果表明：方法检出限（LOD）为0.03 mg/kg（信噪比S/N ≥ 3）,定量限（LOQ）为0.10 mg/kg（S/N ≥ 10）,回收率为80.3%~98.0%,在0.01~1.0 mg/L范围内均有良好的线性,相关系数r²均大于0.997。该方法快速、简便易行、灵敏、准确,适用于饮料、酸奶和果冻中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜的批量检测。     

Multi-residue analytical methods using LC-tandem MS for the determination of pharmaceuticals in environmental and wastewater samples: a review

Multi-residue analytical methodologies are becoming the preferred and required tools against single group analysis, as they provide wider knowledge about the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment necessary for further study of their removal, partition and ultimate fate. However, simultaneous analysis of compounds from different groups with quite different physico-chemical characteristics requires a compromise in the selection of experimental conditions, which in some cases are not the best conditions for all the analytes studied. In this article, an overview of analytical methodologies focusing on the simultaneous determination of acidic, neutral and basic compounds belonging to different therapeutical classes is presented. The state-of-the-art of LC-MS/MS for multi-class analysis is reviewed, highlighting the specific requirements for such analysis.     

液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱和超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱用于检测牛肉中的刚果红

建立了牛肉中刚果红的检测方法。定性方法采用液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱对未知物进行质谱谱图库匹配,定量分析采用超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱。牛肉样品中的刚果红经液液萃取净化后,采用Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈ Rapid Resolution HD色谱柱(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm)进行分离,流动相为95%(体积分数)甲醇,流速为0.2 mL/min。AB 4000⁺三重四极杆质谱仪在电喷雾负离子化(ESI)及MRM模式下定量。结果显示,刚果红在0.03~1 mg/L浓度范围内,线性关系良好(相关系数为0.9998),精密度良好(RSD小于5%),回收率为88%~91%,检出限约为0.01 mg/L。本方法快速简便,重现性好,可以为牛肉及其他肉制品中刚果红的定量提供良好的解决方案。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定水中13种有机污染物

以地表水环境质量标准严格控制的特定项目为依据,建立了直接进样-高效液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定水中13种化学性质差异较大的有机污染物的分析方法,这13种有机污染物为乐果、敌敌畏、敌百虫、对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、马拉硫磷、内吸磷、丙烯酰胺、苯胺、联苯胺、甲萘威、微囊藻毒素-LR、阿特拉津。水样经0.22 μm尼龙66滤膜过滤后,采用Kromasil 100-5 C18柱(150 mm×2.1 mm, 5 μm)分离,以甲醇-0.01%甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速0.5 mL/min,柱温40 ℃,电喷雾正离子模式(ESI⁺)电离,多反应监测模式(MRM)进行检测,外标法定量。13种化合物的浓度与其峰面积在一定浓度范围内均呈现良好的线性关系(r≥0.9995),方法检出限为0.02~0.1 μg/L。测定低、中、高浓度的加标样品,13种化合物的相对标准偏差为0.5%~5.0%(n=6),实际样品加标平均回收率为81.2%~112%。此方法灵敏度高、干扰小、分析速度快,可适用于地表水、地下水中这13种有机污染物的同时分析。     

Rapid determination of quinolones in cosmetic products by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

This study developed an improved analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of 13 quinolones in cosmetics by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with ESI triple quadrupole MS/MS under the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The analytes were extracted and purified by using an SPE cartridge. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.03 to 3.02 μg/kg. The precision for determining the quinolones was <19.39%. The proposed method was successfully developed for the determination of quinolones in real cosmetic samples.     

超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱和超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱用于血浆中苦杏仁苷及其代谢产物野黑樱苷的定性和定量分析

建立了大鼠灌胃麻杏石甘汤后血浆中苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷的定性及定量方法。样品经液液萃取净化处理,定性采用超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆飞行时间质谱仪（UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS）,经Shim-pack XR-ODS Ⅲ色谱柱（75 mm×2.0 mm,1.6 μm）分离,定量采用超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱仪（UPLC-Q-TRAP-MS）,经Agilent C₁₈色谱柱（50 mm×2.1 mm,1.7 μm）分离,电喷雾负离子化（ESI）及MRM模式测定,流动相均为乙腈-0.1%（v/v）甲酸水溶液。结果显示苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷在相应浓度范围内线性关系良好（相关系数分别为0.9990、0.9970）,精密度（RSD）小于9.20%,回收率为82.33%~95.25%,检出限（LOD）约为0.50 ng/mL。本方法快速简便,为血浆样品中苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷的定性和定量分析提供良好参考。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法快速同时测定生姜中10种营养成分

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UHPLC-MS/MS）快速同时测定生姜中姜辣素类和姜黄素类营养成分的分析方法，具体包括6-姜酚、8-姜酚、10-姜酚、6-姜烯酚、8-姜烯酚、10-姜烯酚、四氢姜黄素、姜黄素、去甲氧基姜黄素、双去甲氧基姜黄素10种目标物。采用ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18色谱柱（100 mm×2.1 mm，1.8 μm）分离，以0.1%（v/v）甲酸水溶液和0.1%（v/v）甲酸甲醇溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱，采用电喷雾电离（ESI）源、正离子和多反应监测（MRM）模式对目标物进行定性确证和定量分析。10种营养成分的线性相关系数（r）均≥ 0.9995，方法的定量限为0.10~7.71 μg/L，样品基质在3个水平下的平均加标回收率为82.8%~115.3%，相对标准偏差（RSD）为0.58%~11.49%。分析结果显示，生姜中10种营养成分均有检出，其中6-姜酚的含量最高且集中分布于373.35~702.48 mg/kg。该法简便快速，准确可靠，适用于生姜中姜辣素类和姜黄素类营养成分的分析，可为生姜质量鉴定和控制提供技术手段。     

High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of enterostatins in biological samples

The three forms of enterostatin (Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg, Val-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg, and Val-Pro-Asp-Pro-Arg), pentapeptides known to inhibit fat-intake, were resolved on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using a ternary mobile phase consisting of methanol, acetonitrile, and water. Coupled with MS/MS detection, the method has been applied to identify enterostatin sequences in human cerebrospinal fluid and rat brain tissue. Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg (APGPR) was found to be the predominant enterostatin sequence in both cases. The levels of APGPR were 98.3±16.3 ng/ml in human cerebrospinal fluid and 30.1±12.6 ng/g wet tissue in rat brain, respectively.     

Screening of antibiotics in surface and wastewater samples by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The potential of ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF–MS) for the screening and confirmation of antibiotics in water samples is illustrated in this paper. UHPLC presents several advantages over conventional liquid chromatography as it generates narrow peaks (increasing peak height and improving sensitivity) and reduces chromatographic runs. Regarding QTOF–MS, its increased mass resolution, high sensitivity in full-spectrum acquisition mode and mass accuracy, in both MS and MS/MS modes, make this technique ideal for the detection and reliable confirmation of organic contaminants in environmental samples. After a solid-phase extraction using Oasis HLB cartridges, UHPLC–QTOF–MS has been applied in this work to several types of water samples (surface water and influent and effluent wastewaters). Several antibiotics were found in the samples, such as ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clarythromycin or erythromycin, among others. Moreover, the full spectrum data provided by TOF–MS acquisition has enabled searching for many other pharmaceuticals that could be present in the samples in a “post-target” way. This approach has allowed the detection and confirmation of paracetamol, omeprazole and codeine, among others. UPLC–QTOF–MS has been shown as an attractive and efficient hyphenated technique for the rapid detection and confirmation of pharmaceuticals in water with very little sample handling.     

Simultaneous enantioselective determination of six pesticides in aqueous environmental samples by chiral liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A robust and sensitive method was developed for the enantiomeric analysis of six chiral pesticides (including metalaxyl, epoxiconazole, myclobutanil, hexaconazole, napropamide, and isocarbophos) in aquatic environmental samples. The optimized chromatographic conditions for the quantification of all the 12 enantiomers were performed with Chiralcel OD‐RH column using mobile phase consisting of 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile operated under reversed‐phase conditions and then analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Twelve enantiomers were detected in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Solid‐phase extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction were employed in this study. Response surface methodology was applied to assist in the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction optimization. Under the optimum conditions, recoveries of pesticides enantiomers varied from 83.0 to 103.2% at two spiked levels with relative standard deviation less than 11.5%. The concentration factors were up to 1000 times. Method detection and quantification limits varied from 0.11 to 0.48 ng/L and from 0.46 to 1.49 ng/L, respectively. Finally, this method was used to determination of the enantiomers composition of the six pesticides in environmental aqueous matrices, which will help better understand the behavior of individual enantiomer and make accurate risk assessment to ecosystems.