Pharmaceutical determination in surface and wastewaters using high-performance liquid chromatography-(electrospray)-mass spectrometry

A method was developed to determine 11 pharmaceutical compounds in water samples. The method uses SPE and HPLC coupled to MS (LC/MS) using ESI in both positive and negative modes. Three different sorbents were compared for the extraction of analytes from river and sewage treatment plant (STP) waters and OASIS HLB provided the best results. For the solid-phase extraction of 500 mL of river water samples, the recoveries were between 41 and 101% with the exception of acetaminophen, salicylic acid and naproxen. The LODs were between 3 and 5 ng/L for all the compounds, except naproxen which had an LOD of 15 ng/L. Acetaminophen, caffeine, carbamazepine, bezafibrate and ibuprofen were found in three of the tested river samples at ng/L levels and among them, the highest values were for caffeine and bezafibrate with 305 and 363 ng/L, respectively. For the influent and effluent water samples of the STP, volumes of 100 and 250 mL were used, respectively, to obtain acceptable recoveries. All the compounds showed recoveries between 33 and 91% for effluent samples and 33-72% for influent samples, with the exception of acetaminophen, salicylic acid and bezafibrate, which had lower recoveries. The method developed enabled pharmaceuticals in the influent and effluent sewage waters to be determined in five campaigns carried out between February 2004 and June 2005. Several pharmaceuticals were found in the influent samples: for instance, maximum concentrations of ibuprofen and caffeine were 6 and 40 microg/L, respectively.     

Determination of antidepressants in surface and waste water samples by capillary electrophoresis with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection after preconcentration using off-line solid-phase extraction

A method for the quantitative determination of seven major antidepressants in surface waters and sewage treatment plant effluents by CE using ESI-MS is presented. Calibration curves for the selected analytes were prepared in Milli-Q purified water and Danube river water extract covering a concentration range of at least one order of magnitude. LODs achieved were between 6 and 13 microg/L for Trazodone and 39 and 53 microg/L for Sertraline in the Milli-Q purified water and Danube river water matrix, respectively. For sample preparation eight different SPE materials were investigated. Best results were obtained for a resin based on hydrophilic divinylbenzene (recoveries from Milli-Q purified water 93-96%; from Danube river water 85-99%). Finally, a series of eight sewage treatment plant effluents were investigated with respect to their content in the selected antidepressants. Six of these samples were tested positive for antidepressants, in particular Venlafaxine, Citalopram and Trazodone in concentrations between 36 and 322 ng/L.     

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for determining the presence of eleven personal care products in surface and wastewaters

Personal care products (PCPs) are widely used emerging contaminants which can cause adverse environmental effects. This paper reports the development and validation of a method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–(ESI)MS–MS) for simultaneously determining eleven PCPs: 4 preservatives (methylparaben; ethylparaben; benzylparaben; propylparaben); 2 antimicrobial agents (triclocarban and triclosan) and 5 UV filters (2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone; 2,2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; benzophenone-3; octocrylene and octyldimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid) in environmental waters in only 9 run minutes of chromatographic separation. The SPE was carried out with two polymeric cartridges (Oasis HLB and Bond Elut Plexa). The recoveries obtained with Bond Elut Plexa were between 69% and 101% for 500 mL of river waters, with the exception of octyldimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (46%). Limits of detection for 500 mL of river water were in the range of 1–5 ng/L. Oasis HLB was chosen for wastewater samples with recoveries between 38% and 92% (250 mL of effluents) and 36–89% (100 mL of influents). In both wastewater samples, octyldimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid and methylparaben showed the lowest recoveries (20% and 27%). The method revealed benzophenone-3 as having the highest concentration levels (7 ng/L) in river waters. Most of PCPs determined were found in influent waters being methylparaben and propylparaben the ones found at highest concentration with values of 5613 and 1945 ng/L, respectively. In effluent waters, significant lower levels of some PCPs were found, being benzophenone-3 the one found at the highest concentration (100 ng/L).     

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.     

Simultaneous analysis of 16 sulfonamide and trimethoprim antibiotics in environmental waters by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method combined with solid-phase extraction and silica cartridge cleanup was established for 16 sulfonamides and trimethoprim in various water matrices. Signal suppression of all target analytes in sewage treatment plant influent, effluent and river water was improved by this method developed in this study. The method detection limits for 17 analytes were 20-200 pg/L for influent, 16-120 pg/L for effluent and 8.0-60 pg/L for river water with overall mean recoveries of 62-102% in all studied matrices. This method was used to analyze residual sulfonamides and trimethoprim in wastewater and river samples from Japan, and 8 analytes (0.08 (sulfadimethoxine)-161 ng/L (sulfapyridine) in wastewater and 10 (0.03 (sulfamethizol)-8.9 ng/L (sulfaquinoxaline) in river samples were detected.     

大辽河水系河水中16种抗生素的污染水平分析

采用固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱建立了水中磺胺(SAs)、氟喹诺酮(FQs)、四环素(TCs)和氯霉素(CAPs)4类共16种抗生素的同时定量分析方法。该方法采用正、负离子同时扫描模式,提高了分析速度;同时在固相萃取洗脱步骤中采用两种溶剂(甲醇及含氨水的甲醇)组合对目标抗生素进行洗脱,在减小洗脱溶剂用量的同时又提高了回收率。用此法对大辽河水系20个采样点的河水进行了定量检测。结果表明: 该法对水体中的目标抗生素有较好的灵敏度和富集效果,方法回收率为69.5%～122.6%,检出限为0.05～0.32 ng/L。在大辽河水系河水中共检出4类13种抗生素的残留,其中磺胺甲基异恶唑在所有采样点都有检出;氟喹诺酮类抗生素的局部残留浓度相对较高;四环素和氯霉素的检出频率和检出浓度相对较低。在河流的上游,这4类抗生素的残留水平较低,而在大城市如沈阳、本溪、辽阳的周围残留水平较高。通过对大辽河水系河水中的抗生素污染水平进行系统的分析比较,所得数据说明大辽河水系存在一定程度的抗生素残留污染,今后对周边地区抗生素污染排放需要加强科学管理。     

固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用同时测定河水和海水中87种农药

采用固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用技术,建立了河水和海水中87种农药(24种有机磷、15种有机氯、12种唑类、9种拟除虫菊酯类、5种氨基甲酸酯类、7种酰胺类及15种其他新型农药)的多残留同时分析方法。优化了影响分离效果和灵敏度的仪器参数,考察了固相萃取柱柱型及水样体积、pH、盐度的影响,采用NH2柱优化了净化效果,内标法和替代物法用于数据的质量控制。结果表明: 在最佳条件下,各目标农药的方法检出限为0.1～6.6 ng/L;以实际河水和海水为基底,在5 ng/L和20 ng/L的加标水平下,绝大多数目标农药的回收率为60%～120%,相对标准偏差(n=4)为0.01%～9.7%。该法灵敏、准确,已成功地应用于福建九龙江河口区表层水样中多种类农药的复合污染监测,检出包括5种有机磷类、3种酰胺类、4种唑类、3种氨基甲酸酯类、2种拟除虫菊酯类等农药20种。     

LC-MS determination of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and their carboxylic degradation products in influent and effluent water samples and sludges from sewage-treatment plants

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) have been determined in samples of the influent and the effluent, and in the sludge, from sewage-treatment plants (STP). LAS and sulfophenyl carboxylate compounds (SPC) were isolated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with the polymeric phase Isolute ENV, then determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The method enabled unequivocal identification of C10-C13 LAS by monitoring the ion at m/z 183 and the base peak corresponding to the [M-H]- ion. Average recoveries varied from 77-93% and the linear range of the method varied from 0.2 to 10 microg L(-1), with a limit of detection ranging from 10 ng L(-1) to 1.5 microg L(-1) when 200 mL waste water were preconcentrated. For sewage sludge, recoveries varied from 58 to 90% and the linear range was between 0.2 and 100 microg L(-1), with a detection limit ranging from 0.4 to 120 microg kg(-1) when 2.5 g sewage sludge was extracted. Unequivocal identification and determination of some metabolites of the LAS, the sulfophenyl carboxylate compounds (SPC), was achieved by monitoring [M-H]- ions.     

Trace analysis of diethylstilbestrol, dienestrol and hexestrol in environmental water by Nylon 6 nanofibers mat-based solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of diethylstilbestrol (DES), dienestrol (DE) and hexestrol (HEX) was developed by using the Nylon 6 nanofibers mat-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). These estrogens were separated within 8 min by LC using an ODS column and methanol/water (80/20, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). Electrospray ionization conditions in the negative ion mode were optimized for MS detection of the estrogens. Under the optimum SPE conditions, all target analytes in 50 mL environmental water samples can be completely extracted by 1.5 mg Nylon 6 nanofibers mat at flow rate of 3.0 mL min(-1) and easily eluted by passage of 500 μL mobile phase. By using the novel SPE-LC/MS method, good linearity of the calibration curve (r(2) ≥ 0.9992) was obtained in the concentration range from 0.10 ng L(-1) to 1.0 mg L(-1) (except for DE which was 0.20 ng L(-1) to 1.0 mg L(-1)) for all analytes examined. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the three estrogens ranged from 0.05 ng L(-1) to 0.10 ng L(-1). This method was applied successfully to the analysis of environmental water samples without any other pretreatment and interference peaks. Several water samples were collected from Jinchuan River and Xuanwu Lake, and in Jinchuan River water DES was detected at 0.13 ng L(-1). The recoveries of estrogens spiked into tap water were above 98.2%, and the relative standard deviations were below 4.78%.     

CE Analysis of Cephalosporins in Environmental Waters

This study investigates an off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) for improving the sensitivity in the capillary electrophoretic (CE) analysis of four cephalosporins. Two sorbents—LiChrolut-C₁₈ and Oasis HLB—were used in a SPE process to detect cephalosporins in natural waters (tap, river and hospital sewage) and their performances were compared. By using Oasis HLB sorbent higher recoveries for river water were obtained (94–107% when 500 mL of sample were analyzed). The off-line SPE–CZE method was validated for river water with good detection limits (3 μg L⁻¹) and the linearity ranged between 5 and 200 μg L⁻¹.     

Determination of personal care products in water using UHPLC–MS after solid phase extraction with mesoporous silica‐based MCM‐41 functionalized with cyanopropyl groups

A silica‐based MCM‐41 mesoporous material functionalized with cyanopropyl groups has been synthesized by cocondensation, characterized and applied to preconcentrate six parabens and three UV filters in river and swimming‐pool waters. The analytes were quantified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry, according to the Directive 96/23/EC. Even though matrix effect was negligible, quantification in river water samples with the standard addition approach improved the recoveries obtained using solvent‐based and even with matrix‐matched calibration. The method quantification limits in river water samples were 0.05 ng/mL for 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone and 0.01 ng/mL for the rest. Recoveries, evaluated for a concentration level of 0.5 ng/L, were in the range 93.5‐107.6% for parabens and in the range 64.2‐85.8% for UV filters, with relative standard deviations intraday ≤10.2 and 10.8%, respectively. This parameter, evaluated for a concentration level of 0.1 ng/L, ranged between 98.3 and 110.4% for parabens and between 61.9 and 89.9% for UV filters, with relative standard deviation intraday ≤15.3 and 15.5%, respectively. The two UV filters with lower recoveries were the most affected by the addition of sodium chloride. River and swimming pool waters were analyzed and all the personal care products were found in the swimming pool water, whereas only methylparaben was detected in the river water.     

Rapid simultaneous determination of 14 sulfonamides in wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

This paper describes a rapid method for the determination of 14 kinds of sulfonamides (SAs) in wastewater using SPE, and LC-MS/MS with positive ESI (ESI(+)) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The SPE was performed on an Oasis hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced (HLB) cartridge. Chromatographic separation on a C18 column was achieved using a binary eluent containing methanol and water with 0.2% formic acid. Typical recoveries of the analytes ranged from 22.3 to 87.0% at a fortification level of 100 ng/L. The LODs in wastewater except sulfathiazole (3 ng/L) could be detected and quantified at levels as low as 1 ng/L. Finally, the method was applied to water from the municipal outlet and the aquaculture wastewater effluent. Sulfamethazine (SM(2)), sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP), and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) were most frequently found in wastewater in a concentration range between 1.2 and 31.7 ng/L.     

Steroids contents in waters of wastewater purification plants: determination with partial-filling micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography and UV detection

Partial-filling micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (PF-MEKC) with UV detection was applied for determination of human-based steroids in water samples of Finnish wastewater treatment plants. The samples were purified with solid-phase extraction (SPE) on octadecyl substituted polymer sorbents obtaining analyte enrichment of 20,000-fold. The steroids studied were androgens, estrogens, and progesterone. Three of the steroids could be quantified with the PF-MEKC method. The detection and quantification limits were 0.05–1.06 μg/mL and 0.15–3.2 μg/mL, meaning in the SPE concentrates as 2.5–53 pg/L and 7.5–160 pg/L, respectively. In the influent waters, the total amount of testosterone glucuronide, androstenedione, and progesterone was up to 350 ng/L. In effluent water samples the total steroid quantity was maximum at 320 ng/L. Remarkably high quantity of androstenedione was quantified in both influent and effluent water samples. The cleanest effluent waters were produced in Western Finland. Correspondingly, the highest quantities were located near the largest lake and river areas in South-Eastern Finland. The concentration variation in effluent waters was explained with differences in the purification materials and processes at the plants and with steroid adsorption on soil and organic material suspended into water.     

高效液相色谱法同时分析城市河水中的多种抗生素

结合固相萃取（SPE）与高效液相色谱（HPLC）分析,建立了一种适用于我国城市水环境中多种抗生素的分析方法,同时分析城市水体中3种磺胺类(磺胺嘧啶、磺胺甲唑和磺胺二甲基嘧啶)、3种喹诺酮类(氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星和环丙沙星)、氯霉素以及甲氧苄氨嘧啶等8种抗生素污染物。水样品由稀盐酸调节pH值后经HLB固相萃取小柱萃取,用内标法通过HPLC定量分析上述抗生素污染物。采用Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XRD C18液相色谱柱(150 mm×3.0 mm,3.5 μm),用乙腈-水(含0.1%甲酸)二元流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速为0.25 mL/min,柱温25 ℃。喹诺酮类抗生素使用荧光检测器(FLD)定量,其他抗生素则采用紫外检测器定量。该方法对自来水加标的回收率为80%～120%,对地表水样品加标的回收率为63%～106%,方法的定量检测限为0.030～0.080 μg/L,相对标准偏差小于18%。利用该方法对珠江广州河段的水体进行了分析,检测到磺胺甲唑、氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星及环丙沙星,质量浓度范围为0.197～0.510 μg/L。     

固相萃取-高效液相色谱法同时检测水样中戊唑醇、乙霉威、晴菌唑、精甲霜灵和扑草净5种农药残留

利用石墨烯固相萃取柱萃取、高效液相色谱分离紫外检测,建立了戊唑醇、乙霉威、晴菌唑、精甲霜灵和扑草净5种农药同时检测的方法。确定的优化条件为:洗脱剂为5mL二氯甲烷、样品溶液的pH=7.0,样品体积为200mL。在此条件下,扑草净、戊唑醇、乙霉威、晴菌唑和精甲霜灵在0.05～100μg/L浓度范围内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.895～0.992;信噪比为3时,5种农药的检出限为1.2～5.2ng/L;方法的精密度为1.4%～4.6%。将本方法用于环境水样标准加入分析,相对回收率为80.5%～107.6%;相对标准偏差均小于5%。     

Multi-residue analytical method for human pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones in river water and sewage effluents by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Pollutants such as human pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones that are not covered by environmental legislation have increasingly become important emerging aquatic contaminants. This paper reports the development of a sensitive and selective multi-residue method for simultaneous determination and quantification of 23 pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones from different therapeutic classes in water samples. Target pharmaceuticals include anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic agents, β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, antihistamine, analgesic and sex hormones. The developed method is based on solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) with 30 min total run time. River water samples (150 mL) and (sewage treatment plant) STP effluents (100 mL) adjusted to pH 2, were loaded into MCX (3 cm³, 60 mg) cartridge and eluted with four different reagents for maximum recovery. Quantification was achieved by using eight isotopically labeled internal standards (I.S.) that effectively correct for losses during sample preparation and matrix effects during LC–ESI-MS/MS analysis. Good recoveries higher than 70% were obtained for most of target analytes in all matrices. Method detection limit (MDL) ranged from 0.2 to 281 ng/L. The developed method was applied to determine the levels of target analytes in various samples, including river water and STP effluents. Among the tested emerging pollutants, chlorothiazide was found at the highest level, with concentrations reaching up to 865 ng/L in STP effluent, and 182 ng/L in river water.     

Development of an analytical method for eight fluoroquinolones using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

In this study, a practicable and effective analytical method based on solid-phase-extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (SPE-LC-FLD) was developed and partially validated for routine analysis of eight FQs in wastewater at the trace level. Different SPE materials, pH conditions and eluents were modified to find an economic and effective SPE conditions. In our work, it is the first time that well-known commercially available SPE sorbent are compared to ‘generic’ cheap SPE sorbent. Aqueous samples (pH 2–3) were extracted using Anpel? MEP cartridges where they were subsequently eluted by 6?mL of 2% formic acid in MeOH. The aqueous extracts were analysed by gradient elution LC-FLD, whose initial mobile phase was composed of ACN and 10?mmol?L^?1 tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (4/96, v/v, pH 3). The LODs and LOQs of the wastewater were as low as 0.32–2.12?ng?L^?1 and 1.07–7.07?ng?L^?1, respectively. The precisions of the overall method (RSD, n?=?3) using wastewater were below 10%. The method was used to quantify FQs in influents and effluents of several typical sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Shanghai. The extraction recoveries of 100?mL influent, 500?mL effluent and 500?mL of river water samples were between 88.6 and 102.6%, 79.2 and 109.2%, 80.0 and 105.5% and 87.4 and 99.4%, respectively. FQs of interest except sarafloxacin were identified in the influents, effluents and river waters with concentrations varying from 0.012–1.163?µg?L^?1, 0.003–0.291?µg?L^?1, and 0.002–0.040?µg?L^?1, respectively. The method can serve as a tool to obtain detailed information on occurrence, behaviour and fate of FQs in the aquatic environment. Occurrence of FQs detected in summer is higher than in spring at STPs, and those detected in the suburban area are less than those in the urban area. Complete removal of FQs is not achieved from the STPs, indicating domestic wastewater and STP discharge is the source of FQs in the surface water.     

固相萃取液相色谱-质谱/质谱联用测定河水中大环内酯类抗生素

应用固相萃取（SPE）及LC—MS／MS技术,建立了水中痕量大环内酯类抗生素即红霉素、脱水红霉素、罗红霉素的分析方法,优化了固相萃取、液相色谱-质谱／质谱等相关条件。水样经HLB固相萃取柱富集净化,以多反应检测方式（MRM）对待测物进行定性和定量分析。3种抗生素在10-2000ng／L范围内具有良好的线性。其定量下限为5ng／L（S／N〉10）。加标纯水和实际水样的回收率在71％-111％之间,相对标准偏差（RSD）在3．7％-8．6％之间。该方法灵敏度高、选择性好、准确度高,适合实际水样中痕量大环内酯类药物的检测。使用该方法测得珠江广州河段某水样中红霉素、脱水红霉素和罗红霉素质量浓度分别为164、291和134ng／L。     

Head-column field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine-HCl in plasma.

In this study, low concentrations of histamine2-receptor (H2-)antagonists were effected across a water plug, with separation taking place in a binary buffer comprising ethylene glycol and NaH2PO4 (pH 5.0), and detection at 214 nm. Liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate- isopropanol is shown to provide extracts that are sufficiently clean. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.1-2.00 microg/mL cimetidine, 0.2-5.0 microg/mL ranitidine-HCl, 0.3-5.0 microg/mL nizatidine, and 0.1-3.0 microg/mL famotidine. Mean recoveries were > 82%, while the intra- and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) and relative errors (REs) were all < 13%. The method is sensitive with a detection limit of 3 ng/mL cimetidine, 30 ng/mL ranitidine HCl, 50 ng/mL nizatidine and 10 ng/mL famotidine (S/N = 3, electric-driven injection 90 s). This newly developed capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was applied for the determination of analytes extracted from plasma taken from a volunteer dosing a cimetidine, ranitidine, and nizatidine tablet simultaneously. These three H2-antagonists can be detected in real samples by this method, excluding the low dosing of famotidine tablet.     

C_(18)膜萃取/液相色谱-质谱联用法测定极地水体中有机磷酸酯

建立了C_(18)膜萃取/液相色谱-质谱联用技术测定极地水体中10种有机磷酸酯(OPEs)的方法。根据优化后的样品前处理及仪器方法,利用C_(18)膜富集4 L水体中的10种OPEs,经二氯甲烷超声提取,在电喷雾正离子模式下,采用选择反应监测(SRM)模式进行分析,线性相关系数为0.994 4~0.999 9。10种OPEs的加标回收率为64.1%~115%,方法检出限为0.08~0.55 ng/L。该方法适用于极地水体中10种OPEs的分析,利用该方法对北极水体样品中的10种OPEs进行检测,测得冰川融水中∑OPEs的质量浓度为0.64~6.64 ng/L,海水中∑OPEs的质量浓度为0.09~2.03 ng/L。