Solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber silylation for simultaneous determinations of endocrine disrupting chemicals and steroid hormones by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and on-fiber silylation, a method for simultaneous determinations of exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and endogenous steroid hormones in environmental aqueous and biological samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed. The selected target compounds were: octylphenol (OP), technical grade nonylphenol (t-NP), diethylstilbestrol (DES), dehydroisoandrosterone (DEHA), estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and pregnenolone (PREG). The optimization of operating conditions influencing the performances of SPME and derivatization were studied in detail. The average correlation coefficient of the calibration curves of the target compounds was 0.9968 and the linear ranges of most compounds spanned over three orders of magnitude. The LOD/(LOQ) values of the target compounds in river water and blood serum were in the range of 0.002-0.378/(0.008-1.261) microg L(-1) and 0.004-0.474/(0.013-1.579) microg L(-1), respectively, which were a bit higher than those in the pure water due to matrix effects. The developed method was applied to the determinations of target compounds in real samples. Exogenous OP, t-NP and DES were at 0.15, 4.67 and 0.02 microg L(-1) in river water and 3.21, 12.17 and 0.15 microg L(-1) in fish blood serum. Natural steroid hormones E1, E2 and T were at 0.18, 0.10 and 5.55 microg L(-1) in river water, and in female fish serum, E1, E2 and PREG were at 1.61, 1.08 and 4.58 microg L(-1), respectively. The proposed SPME method was compared with traditional SPE procedure and the results found using both methods were in the same order of magnitude and both are quite agreeable.     

气相色谱-质谱法测定水体中5种典型有机紫外防晒剂

建立了水体中5种典型有机紫外防晒剂甲氧基肉桂酸乙基己酯（ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate,EHMC）、二苯酮-3（benzophenone-3,BP-3）、4-甲基苄亚基樟脑（4-methylbenzylidene camphor,4-MBC）、奥克立林（octocrylene,OC）和胡莫柳酯（homosalate,HMS）的气相色谱-质谱检测方法。对HMS、BP-3衍生化条件进行了系统的优化。以100 μL双（三甲基硅烷基）三氟乙酰胺（N,O-bis（trimethylsilyl） trifluoroacetamide,BSTFA）为衍生化试剂,在100 ℃下反应100 min。水样固相萃取选用Oasis HLB萃取柱（0.5 g）,洗脱溶剂为乙酸乙酯-二氯甲烷（1：1,v/v）,水样pH 3~5。该方法对5种化合物的检出限范围为0.5~1.2 ng/L,定量限范围为1.4~4.0 ng/L。最佳实验条件下,加标水样回收率为87.85%~102.34%,相对标准偏差（n=3）均小于5%。该方法成功地应用于昆明市第一污水厂进出口水样中目标物质的分析。     

Determination of pharmaceutical residues in waters by solid-phase extraction and large-volume on-line derivatization with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This work presents a modified method to analyze selected pharmaceutical residues (clofibric acid, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac) in water samples. Various solid-phase extraction cartridges were investigated. The newly developed Oasis HLB (polystyrene-divinylbenzene-N-vinyl pyrrolidone terpolymer) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge provides the optimal sample extraction results. The analytes were then identified and quantitatively determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) via on-line derivatization in the injection-port using a large-volume (10 microl) sample injection with tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts. This injection-port derivatization technique provides sensitivity, fast and reproducible results for pharmaceutical residues analysis. Mass spectra of butylated derivatives and tentative fragmentation profiles are proposed. Molecular ions and some characteristic ions were used as the quantitation ions to obtain maximum detection sensitivity and specificity. The quantitation limits of these compounds ranged from 1.0 to 8.0 ng/l in 500 ml tap water samples. Recovery of these residues in spiked various water samples ranged from 50 to 108% while RSD ranged from 1 to 10%. The selected analytes were detected in concentrations of 30 to 420 ng/l in wastewater treatment plant effluent and river water samples.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer surfaces as solid-phase extraction sorbents for the extraction of 2-nitrophenol and isomers from environmental water

The novel surface molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with 2‐nitrophenol (2‐NP) as the template has been prepared and used as the adsorbent for the solid‐phase extraction (SPE). The selectivity of the polymer was checked toward several selected nitrophenols (NPs) such as 2‐NP, 3‐nitrophenol (3‐NP), 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (2,4,6‐TCP). Under the optimized conditions, high sensitivity (detection limits: 0.07–0.12 ng/mL) and good reproducibility of analytes (2.3–4.8% for four cycles) were achieved. Then, the method was applied for the analysis of selected phenols in spiked tap, lake and river water samples. High recoveries (>83.3%) for nitrophenols (NPs) were obtained, but lower recoveries (<63.4%) were achieved for 2,4,6‐TCP. The method was found to be linear in the range of 1–300 ng/mL with correlation coefficients (R²) greater than 0.99 and repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD) below 7.2% in all cases. For analysis of 120 mL water samples, the method detection limits (LODs) ranged from 0.10 to 0.22 ng/mL and the limit of quantification (LOQs) from 0.33 to 0.72 ng/mL. These results showed the suitability of the MIP‐SPE method for the selective extraction of a group of structurally related isomeric compounds.     

Simultaneous determination of benzotriazoles and ultraviolet filters in ground water, effluent and biosolid samples using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of four benzotriazoles, i.e. benzotriazole (BT), 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-TTri), 5-chlorobenzotriazole (CBT), 5,6-dimethylbenzotriazole (XTri), and six UV filters, i.e. benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor (4-MBC), octyl 4-methoxycinnamate (OMC), 2-(3-t-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-chloro benzotriazole (UV-326), 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-octylphenyl)-benzotriazole (UV-329), and octocrylene (OC) in ground water, effluent and biosolid samples. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) were applied as the preconcentration method for water samples (ground water and effluent) and biosolid samples, respectively. The optimized method allowed us to quantify all target compounds with the method detection limits ranging from 0.29 to 11.02 ng/L, 0.5 to 14.1 ng/L and 0.33 to 8.23 ng/g in tap water, effluent and biosolid samples, respectively. The recoveries of the target analytes in tap water, effluent and biosolid samples were 70-150%, 82-127% and 81-133%, respectively. The developed analytical method was applied in the determination of these target compounds in ground water, effluent and biosolid samples collected from Bolivar sewage treatment plants in South Australia. In effluent samples, the target compounds BT, 5-TTri, CBT, XTri and BP-3 tested were detected with the maximum concentration up to 2.2 μg/L for BT. In biosolid samples, eight out of ten compounds tested were found to be present at the concentrations ranging between 18.7 ng/g (5-TTri) and 250 ng/g (4-MBC).     

Simultaneous determination of macrolides, sulfonamides, and other pharmaceuticals in water samples by solid-phase extraction and LC-(ESI) MS

This paper describes a method for determining 11 pharmaceuticals in various water sources by SPE followed by LC-(ESI) MS. SPE was carried out with Oasis HLB and the recoveries were 33-67% for 250 and 100 mL sewage water, 55-77% for 500 mL river water and 72-98% for 1 L tap water, with the exception of sulfamethoxazole and omeprazole which showed lower recoveries in all kinds of sample. The LODs in river water were of 5 ng/L for sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole, and ranitidine and 10 ng/L for the other compounds. The highest concentrations found in river waters were for sulfamethoxazole (50 ng/L). In influent sewage waters, ranitidine was the most commonly detected compound with a maximum value of 0.24 microg/L.     

Solid-phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction of natural and synthetic estrogens from aqueous samples

A method is proposed for the clean-up and preconcentration of natural and synthetic estrogens from aqueous samples employing molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as selective sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE). The selectivity of the MIP was checked toward several selected natural and synthetic estrogens such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (β-E2), 17α-estradiol (α-E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), dienestrol (DIES) and diethylstilbestrol (DES). Ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a TSQ triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ) was used for analysis of target analytes. The chromatographic separation of the selected compounds was performed in less than 2 min under isocratic conditions. The method was applied to the analysis of estrogens in spiked river and tap water samples. High recoveries (>82%) for estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-estradiol, estriol and 17α-ethinylestradiol were obtained. Lower but still satisfactory recoveries (>48%) were achieved for dienestrol and diethylstilbestrol. The method was validated and found to be linear in the range 50-500 ng L(-1) with correlation coefficients (R(2)) greater than 0.995 and repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD) below 8% in all cases. For analysis of 100-mL sample, the method detection limits (LOD) ranged from 4.5 to 9.8 ng L(-1) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) from 14.9 to 32.6 ng L(-1). To demonstrate the potential of the MIP obtained, a comparison with commercially available C(18) SPE was performed. Molecularly imprinted SPE showed higher recoveries than commercially available C(18) SPE for most of the compounds. These results showed the suitability of the MIP-SPE method for the selective extraction of a class of structurally related compounds such as natural and synthetic estrogens.     

Combined solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry used for determination of chloropropanols in water

A sensitive and rapid derivatization method for the simultaneous determination of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) and 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) in water samples has been developed. The aim was to research the optimal conditions of the derivatization process for two selected reagents. A central composite design was used to determine the influence of derivatization time, derivatization temperature and reagent volume. A global desirability function was applied for multi-response optimization. The analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. During the optimization of the extraction procedure, four different types of solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns were tested. It was demonstrated that the Oasis HLB cartridge produced the best recoveries of the target analytes. The pH value and the salinity were investigated using a Doehlert design. The best results for the SPE of both analytes were obtained with 1.5 g of NaCl and pH 6. The proposed method provides high sensitivity, good linearity (R(2)≥0.999) and repeatability (relative standard deviations % between 2.9 and 3.4%). Limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 1.4-11.2 ng/mL and 4.8-34.5 ng/mL, respectively. Recoveries obtained for water samples were ca. 100% for 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of different samples including commercially bottled water, an influent and effluent sewage.     

Simultaneous determination of the endocrine disrupting compounds nonylphenol, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan and bisphenol A in wastewater and sewage sludge by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An integrated analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS) in wastewater (dissolved and particulate phase) and sewage sludge was developed based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Chromatographic analysis was achieved after derivatization with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). Extraction from water samples was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The optimization of SPE procedure included the type of sorbent and the type of the organic solvent used for the elution. Referred to solid samples, the target compounds were extracted by sonication. In this case the optimization of the extraction procedure included the variation of the amount of the extracted biomass, the duration and the temperature of sonication and the type of the extraction organic solvent. The developed extraction procedures resulted in good repeatability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 13% for all the tested compounds for both types of samples. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained (>60%) for all the compounds in both liquid and solid samples, except for 4-n-NP, which gave recoveries up to 35% in wastewater samples and up to 63% in sludge samples. The limits of detection (LODs) of the target compounds varied from 0.03 (4-n-NP) to 0.41 microg l(-1) (NP2EO) and from 0.04 (4-n-NP) to 0.96 microg kg(-1) (NP2EO) for liquid and solid samples, respectively. The developed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of the target compounds in real samples.     

Simultaneous determination of degradation products of nonylphenol polyethoxylates and their halogenated derivatives by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after trimethylsilylation

An efficient method for the simultaneous determination of the degradation products of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPnEOs, n = number of ethoxy units), i.e., nonylphenol (NP), NPnEOs (n = 1-3), nonylphenoxy carboxylic acids (NPnECs, n = 1-2, number of ethoxy units plus an acetate) and their halogenated derivatives (XNP, XNP1EO and XNP1EC; X = Br or Cl), in water samples were developed. After trimethylsilylation with N,O-bis(trimethysilyl)acetamide, all the analytes were determined by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) with electron ionization (EI). The ion peaks of [M - 85]+ of the derivatives were selected as precursor ions and their product ions showing the highest intensities were used for the quantitative analysis. The instrumental detection limits were in the range from 2.1 to 11 pg. The recoveries of the analytes from the water samples were optimized by using solid-phase extraction (SPE). The deuterated reagents of octylphenol, octylphenol monoethoxylate and octylphenoxyacetic acid were used as the surrogates. The method detection limits (500 ml water sample) using C18 SPE were from 2.5 to 18 ng/l. The recoveries from spiked pure water and the environmental water samples were greater than 78%. The method was successfully applied to environmental samples. Remarkably, the concentrations of the halogenated compounds (CINP, CINP1EO and BrNP1EO) were detected at the hundreds of ng/l levels in the Neya river.     

Optimization of solid-phase microextraction conditions using a response surface methodology to determine organochlorine pesticides in water by gas chromatography and electron-capture detection.

A response surface methodology was applied to optimise the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) conditions using a polyacrylate-coated fiber to determine thirteen organochlorine pesticides from water. Analyses were performed using gas chromatography-electron-capture detection. Variables affecting absorption in both the headspace and immersion extraction were optimised by using a response surface generated with a Doehlert design, and the results were compared. The immersion SPME method was selected since higher recoveries were obtained for most of the compounds studied. The method developed was applied to the analysis of tap and Ebro river water samples. The linear range of most pesticides for real samples was found to be between 0.001 and 2.5 micrograms l-1 and the limits of detection were between 0.15 and 0.35 ng l-1. The repeatability and the reproducibility between days of the method (n = 6), expressed as relative standard deviation, for tap water spiked at a level of 1 ng l-1 were between 5.7 and 25.6% and between 7.6 and 26.5%, respectively.     

Ultratrace-level determination of glyphosate,aminomethylphosphonic acid and glufosinate in natural waters by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: performance tuning of derivatization,enrichment and detection

A sensitive and robust analytical method for the quantification of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and glufosinate in natural water has been developed on the basis of a derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC-Cl), solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography followed by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). In order to maximize sensitivity, the derivatization was optimized regarding organic solvent content, amount of FMOC-Cl and reaction time. At an acetonitrile content of 10% a derivatization yield of 100% was reached within two hours in groundwater and surface water samples. After a twofold dilution the low acetonitrile content allowed solid-phase extraction of a sample of originally 80 mL over 200 mg Strata-X cartridges. In order to decrease the load of the LC column and mass spectrometer with derivatization by-products (e.g., 9-fluorenylmethanol FMOC-OH), a rinsing step was performed for the SPE cartridge with dichloromethane. Acidification of the sample and addition of EDTA was used to minimize complexation of the target compounds with metal ions in environmental samples. Due to the large sample volume and the complete FMOC-OH removal, limits of quantification of 0.7 ng/L, 0.8 ng/L and 2.3 ng/L were achieved in surface water for glyphosate, AMPA and glufosinate, respectively. The limits of detection were as low as 0.2 ng/L, 0.2 ng/L and 0.6 ng/L for glyphosate, AMPA and glufosinate, respectively. Surface water and ground water samples spiked at 2 ng/L showed recoveries of 91–107%. Figure LC-MS/MS chromatogram of a water sample from a remote alpine region spiked at 1 ng/L     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine sedative hypnotic drugs in river water and wastewater

A method for simultaneous determination of four benzodiazepines (bromazepam (BMZ), carbamazepine (CBZ), diazepam (DZP) and nordiazepam (NDZ)) and four barbiturates (barbital (BTL), pentobarbital (PTB), phenobarbital (PNB) and secobarbital (SCB)) in river water and wastewater using solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-(electrospray) tandem mass spectrometry (LC-(ESI)MS/MS) was developed. LC-(ESI)MS/MS analysis was performed in positive and negative modes for benzodiazepines and barbiturates, respectively, and in selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.2–5 ng/L for benzodiazepines and 2.5–50 ng/L for barbiturates. Precision (repeatability and reproducibility between days) expressed as %RSD (n = 5) was lower than 17% for low concentration (depending on the matrix between 50 and 250 ng/L for barbiturates, and between 5 and 25 ng/L for benzodiazepines), and lower than 15% for high concentration (between 200 and 1250 ng/L for barbiturates, and between 20 and 125 ng/L for benzodiazepines). Low matrix effect was observed for all compounds, except for BTL (75%) and PTB (–48%) in wastewater. The method was applied to water samples from two sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the rivers Ebre, Ter and Llobregat, located in Catalonia. CBZ was the target compound found at the highest concentration in river water (2.1–3.3 ng/L). In both influent and effluent wastewater samples, PNB, BMZ, CBZ, DZP and NDZ were determined at concentration levels ranging from 5.0 to 2337.3 ng/L.     

Quantification of estrogenic mycotoxins at the ng/L level in aqueous environmental samples using deuterated internal standards

Because of their pronounced estrogenicity, resorcyclic acid lactones (RALs) are of concern in aqueous environments even at the low ng/L level. Therefore, we developed an accurate, precise and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method to detect these mycotoxins in different aqueous environmental samples. The compounds investigated included zearalenone (ZON), alpha- and beta-zearalenol, zearalanone as well as alpha- and beta-zearalanol. The use of isotope labelled internal standards (in this case deuterated RAL-analogues) ensured an accurate quantification of the target analytes, independent of matrix compounds interfering with the analytes during ionisation and analyte losses occurring during sample preparation. Sample enrichment was carried out by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Supelclean Envi-18 cartridges. Absolute method recoveries for all analytes ranged from 95 to 108%, 70 to 102%, and 76 to 109%, method detection limits from 0.5 to 2.1 ng/L, 0.4 to 1.1 ng/L, and 0.8 to 12.4 ng/L and precision from 3 to 14%, 2 to 13% and 4 to 16% in drainage water, river water and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, respectively. The method was applied to verify the emission of RALs from a Fusarium graminearum infested crop field into the drainage system. Zearalenone was present in drainage water in concentrations up to 30 ng/L. So far, none of the other five investigated compounds have been detected.     

固相萃取-大体积程序升温进样气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱测定饮用水中3种挥发性N-亚硝胺

建立了固相萃取大体积程序升温进样气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱联用（GC-QqQ-MS/MS）同时测定饮用水中N-亚硝基二甲胺、N-亚硝基甲基乙基胺及N-亚硝基二乙基胺的分析方法。用椰壳活性炭固相萃取小柱萃取水样中待测物组分，少量二氯甲烷洗脱、无水硫酸钠脱水，大体积程序升温进样，气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱联用仪进行多反应监测（MRM）模式检测，外标法定量。3种N-亚硝胺在1~50 ng/L范围内线性关系良好，相关系数（r²）均大于0.999，在饮用水中进行10、20和50 ng/L水平的添加，3种待测物平均加标回收率为94.8%~109%，相对标准偏差（RSD）为4.44%~8.10%（n=5），定量限（LOQ）为0.08~0.7 ng/L。该法灵敏、准确、简单、可靠，适用于饮用水中3种N-亚硝胺组分的痕量检测。     

Analysis of Six Phenolic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Surface Water and Sediment

An efficient and reliable method based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was developed for the extraction and analysis of six phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), nonylphenol-mono-ethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol-di-ethoxylate (NP2EO), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-cumylphenol (4-CP) in surface water and sediment. The method was developed by using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), solid phase extraction (SPE) and derivatization procedure. The MAE procedures were performed by optimizing three key process factors, consisted of extraction solvent, extraction temperature and holding time, affecting the extraction efficiency from sediment samples. For SPE, various parameters that may affect the recovery efficiency of water samples, such as SPE phase cartridge, elution solvent, as well as pH of water samples, were investigated. A series of derivatization conditions, such as derivatization reagent, reaction temperature and reaction time, were improved. The method achieved good repeatability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations <13% for all target EDCs in the both samples. Satisfactory recoveries for spiked water and sediment samples ranged from 85 to 101% and 74 to 105%, respectively. The limits of quantification varied from 0.20 (4-t-OP) to 11.50 ng L^?1 (NP2EO) and from 0.31 (4-t-OP) to 9.50 ng g^?1 dry weight (dw) (NP2EO) for water samples and sediment samples, respectively. The established method was successfully applied to the analysis of target EDCs in surface water and sediment samples collected from Caohai site of Dianchi Lake, China. The results showed that NP1EO, NP2EO and BPA were the three dominant phenolic EDCs in the site, reaching 114, 97 and 149 ng L^?1 in surface water, while 444, 186 and 178 ng g^?1 dw in surface sediment, respectively.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry determination of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in drinking and surface waters

A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method for analyzing organophophorus flame retardants and plasticizers in drinking and environmental waters was developed. Five alkyl phosphates, three chlorinated alkyl phosphates, two aryl phosphate and triphenylphosphine oxide were selected for this study. These compounds were extracted from water samples by a hydrophilic polymeric solid-phase extraction cartridge. Accuracy and precision were evaluated analyzing 0.5 L of water samples spiked at concentrations of 10 and 100 ng/L for drinking water and at 300 and 1000 ng/L for river water. Except for trimethyl phosphate, analyte recoveries were better than 80%, and were not dependent on the type of aqueous matrix in which they were dissolved. At the spike levels considered, within-day precision was between 3 and 12% for tap water and between 4 and 14% for river water, and estimated method quantification limits ranged from 0.2 to 3.9 ng/L. A short survey conducted by analyzing some river water samples (River Tiber) ascertained the presence of ten organophosphorus compounds at concentration levels ranging from a few nanograms per liter to 323 ng/L for tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate.     

Accurate analysis of trace earthy-musty odorants in water by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of trace earthy-musty compounds including geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2,3,4-trichloroanisole, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, and 2,3,6-trichloroanisole in water samples. This method combined headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and used naphthalene-d(8) as internal standard. A divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber exposing at 90°C for 30 min provided effective sample enrichment in HS-SPME. These compounds were separated by a DB-1701MS capillary column and detected in selected ion monitoring mode within 12 min. The method showed a good linearity from 1 to 100 ng L(-1) and detection limits within (0.25-0.61 ng L(-1)) for all compounds. Using naphthalene-d(8) as the internal standard, the intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was within (2.6-3.4%), while the inter-day RSD was (3.5-4.9%). Good recoveries were obtained for tap water (80.5-90.6%), river water (81.5-92.4%), and lake water (83.5-95.2%) spiked at 10 ng L(-1). Compared with other methods using HS-SPME for determination of odor compounds in water samples, this present method had more analytes, better precision, and recovery. This method was successfully applied for analysis of earthy-musty odors in water samples from different sources.     

Microwave-assisted extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals in river sediments

A method for the simultaneous measurement of trace amounts of phenolic xenoestrogens, such as 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 4-tert-butyl-phenol (BP), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and bisphenol A (BPA), in water samples was developed using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with in situ derivatization followed by thermal desorption (TD)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The conditions for derivatization with acetic acid anhydride were investigated. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated stir bar and derivatization reagents were added to 10 ml of water sample and stirring was commenced for 10-180 min at room temperature (25 degrees C) in a headspace vial. Then, the extract was analyzed by TD-GC-MS. The optimum time for SBSE with in situ derivatization was 90 min. The detection limits of 2,4-DCP, BP, OP, NP, PCP and BPA were 2, 1, 0.5, 5, 2 and 2 pg ml(-1), respectively. The method showed good linearity over the concentration ranges of 10, 5, 2, 20, 10 and 10-1000 pg ml(-1) for 2,4-DCP, BP, OP, NP, PCP and BPA, respectively, and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.99. The average recoveries of those compounds in river water samples were equal to or higher than 93.9% (R.S.D. <7.2%) with correction using the added surrogate standards. This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective method can be used in the determination of trace amounts of phenolic xenoestrogens in river water samples.     

Determination of estrogens and their metabolites in water using C30 SPE-LC-MS

Triacontyl bonded silica (C(30)) material was applied as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent and an SPE-LC-MS method was established for the determination of eight estrogens and their metabolites in water samples. Compared to commercial C(18) SPE cartridge, the performance of C(30) was evaluated in various important SPE conditions, such as sorbent mass, elution solvent and its volume, loading flow rate, and sample loading volume. The results showed a superior performance of C(30)-C(18) by the shorter treatment time and fewer required elution solvent. In the optimum conditions, the results showed good recoveries (80.5-109.4%), excellent linear relationships (0.02-1 ng/mL, except 2-MeO-E(2)), high precisions (lower than 10.0% RSD for both low and high spiked concentration), and low LODs (1-16 ng/L). Method validation using C(30) packed cartridge was also testified with spiked real water samples, including tap water and river water. Satisfy results demonstrated the feasibility of C(30) SPE to the analysis for real environmental waters.