Comparison of a non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis method with high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of herbicides and metabolites in water samples

A method of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of triazine herbicides and some of their main metabolites in water samples has been developed. The proposed CE method includes an off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure with LiChrolut EN sorbent coupled to a non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) separation with UV detection. The target compounds were the chloro-s-triazines simazine, atrazine, propazine; the methyltio-s-triazines ametryn and prometryn and three main derivatives from the atrazine degradation products; namely, deethylatrazine, deethylhydroxyatrazine and deisopropylhydroxyatrazine. The analytical characteristics of the CE method are reported. The repeatability of the method was studied considering the different steps of the method separately in order to determine the contributions of each step to the total variability of the method. The NACE-UV results are compared with those obtained with a high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) method. The same off-line SPE procedure was applied to both techniques. The results obtained show that both methods afford the same results in the analysis of surface and drinking water samples, with a level of significance regarding the F- and t-tests greater than 0.05 in all the cases. The detection limits in surface water samples were in the 0.04-0.32 microg l(-1) and 0.11-1.2 microg l(-1) ranges for the NACE-UV and HPLC-UV methods, respectively. The recoveries (spiked/found) were significantly 100% in all cases.     

固相萃取-毛细管液相色谱测定食品和水样中有机磷和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂残留

采用乙腈提取、固相萃取（SPE）富集浓缩技术结合自行研制开发的毛细管液相色谱（CLC）仪,同时分离测定了食品和水样中1种有机磷和3种氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂残留。对影响SPE效率和CLC分离检测的各类因素进行了优化,包括固相萃取柱种类、样品pH、洗脱剂种类和体积、上样速率、盐效应、上样体积、检测波长、流动相种类和比例等。结果表明,4种杀虫剂在6 min内达到完全分离,检出限为0.35~1.20 μg/kg,定量限为1.17~4.00 μg/kg。使用该SPE-CLC法对西红柿、黄瓜、苹果样品和自来水、湖水水样进行加标回收测定,得到食品中加标回收率为72.41%~107.15%,相对标准偏差≤8.12%;水样中加标回收率为71.45%~109.25%,相对标准偏差≤9.28%。该法能够满足农药多残留分析要求。     

Pyrrole-based conductive polymer as the solid-phase extraction medium for the preconcentration of environmental pollutants in water samples followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization and mass spectrometry detection

A pyrrole-based polymer was synthesized and applied as a new sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of some environmental pollutants from water samples. Polypyrrole (PPy) was synthesized by chemical oxidation of the monomer in nonaqueous solution. SPE of selected phenols, pesticides, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous samples were performed using 200 mg PPy. The determination was subsequently carried out by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The polymer showed much higher recoveries for aromatic compounds than aliphatics. Preconcentration of sample volumes up 11 led to acceptable recoveries for aromatic and other tested polar compounds. The R.S.D. for a river water sample spiked with phenols, pesticides and PAHs at sub-ppb level was lower than 10% (n = 3) and limits of detection for these compounds were between 15 and 120 ng l(-1).     

Solid-phase extraction and field-amplified sample injection–capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of benzophenone UV filters in environmental water samples

A field-amplified sample injection–capillary zone electrophoresis (FASI-CZE) method for the analysis of benzophenone (BP) UV filters in environmental water samples was developed, allowing the separation of all compounds in less than 8 min. A 9- to 25-fold sensitivity enhancement was obtained with FASI-CZE, achieving limits of detection down to 21–59 μg/L for most of the analyzed BPs, with acceptable run-to-run and day-to-day precisions (relative standard deviations lower than 17 %). In order to remove water sample salinity and to enhance FASI sensitivity, an off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using a Strata X polymeric reversed-phase sorbent was used and afforded recoveries up to 72–90 % for most BPs. With the combination of off-line SPE and FASI-CZE, limits of detection in the range 0.06–0.6 μg/L in a river water matrix, representing a 2,400- to 6,500-fold enhancement, were obtained. Method performance was evaluated by quantifying a blank river water sample spiked at 1 μg/L. For a 95 % confidence level, no statistical differences were observed between found concentrations and spiked concentrations (probability at the confidence level, p value, of 0.60), showing that the proposed off-line SPE-FASI-CZE method is suitable for the analysis of BP UV filters in environmental water samples at low microgram per liter levels. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of BPs in river water samples collected up- and downstream of industrialized and urban areas, and in some drinking water samples.     

Semi-automated disk-type solid-phase extraction method for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in aqueous samples and its application to natural water

A disk-type solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was used for the extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in natural water and tap water. Since this SPE system comprised airtight glass covers with a decompression pump, it enabled continuous extraction with semi-automation. The disk-type SPE method was validated by comparing its recovery rates of spiked internal standards with those of the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). The recovery ranges of both methods were similar in terms of (13)C-labeled internal standards: 64.3-99.2% for the LLE and 52.4-93.6% for the SPE. For the native spike of 1,3,6,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), the recoveries in the SPE were in the normal range of 77.9-101.1%. However, in the LLE, the recoveries of 1,3,6,8-TCDD decreased significantly. One of the reasons for the low recovery is that the solubility of this congener is high. The semi-automated SPE method was applied to the analysis of different types of water: river water, snow, sea water, raw water for drinking purposes, and tap water. PCDD/F congeners were found in some sea water and snow samples, while their concentrations in the other samples were below the limits of detection (LODs). This SPE system is appropriate for the routine analysis of water samples below 50L.     

Trace determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in environmental aqueous samples using off-line and on-line preconcentration in capillary electrophoresis

A sensitive and reliable method using capillary zone electrophoresis with UV-diode array detection (CZE-DAD) has been developed and validated for trace determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in waste, well and river water matrices. Due to the lack of sensitivity of the UV-vis detection, a solvent extraction/solid-phase extraction (SPE) method applied for off-line preconcentration and cleanup of water samples, in combination with an on-line preconcentration methodology named large volume sample stacking (LVSS) have been applied. The analytes included nafcillin, dicloxacillin, cloxacillin, oxacillin, ampicillin, penicillin G and amoxicillin. Average recoveries for water samples fortified with the studied beta-lactams at different concentration levels (1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 microg/L) were ranging between 94 and 99%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 10%. The precision, calculated as intra-day and inter-day standard deviations fell within acceptable ranges (3.3-7.2%). The limits of detection were estimated to range between 0.08 and 0.80 microgL(-1) for the studied compounds. All the samples analyzed were negative for all the analytes at these levels of concentration and the method showed its usefulness for the detection of these widely applied beta-lactam antibiotics in different kinds of waters.     

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 haloacetic acids in aqueous environments by solid-phase extraction followed by ion-pair liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) were determined in different water samples by a new, fast and simple analysis method based on enrichment of 50-ml water samples at pH 1.8 by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography (LC) separation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection in the negative ionization mode. Deprotonated (M-H)-haloacetates and decarboxylated (M-COOH)- ions were detected. Different polymeric SPE sorbents were tested, and LiChrolut EN was found to be the best material for the extraction. Complete LC separation of all compounds could only be achieved by ion-pair chromatography using triethylamine as volatile ion-pairing reagent. The detection limits were in the low microg/l range. High microg/l concentration levels for the chlorinated and brominated haloacetates were found in drinking water from a drinking water treatment plant in Barcelona, and the corresponding tap water. In swimming pool water samples from Catalonia mg/l levels and in surface river water from Portugal microg/l values were detected. These results confirm other recent reports on the ubiquitous occurrence of HAAs in aqueous environments.     

Determination of antihypertensive and anti-ulcer agents from surface water with solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants in surface water and they must be measured to follow their effects on the aquatic environment. We developed a solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the determination of twenty-six pharmaceutical compounds - which belong to antihypertensive and anti-ulcer agents - from surface water samples. The selection of pharmaceuticals was based on usage frequency in Hungary. During method development Oasis HLB, SampliQ Polymer SCX and Si-SCX SPE cartridges were tested. As LC eluent ammonium formate, ammonium acetate buffers at pH 3 and 5 were investigated and for quantitation both matrix-matched and internal standard calibration was used. For matrix effect assessment post-extraction spike method was applied which can separate the extraction efficiency from ion suppression for better determination of recovery. Method detection limits (MDLs) varied between 0.2 and 10 ng/L. Precision of the method, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD), ranged from 0.2 to 14.6% and from 1.2 to 22.4% for intra- and inter-day analysis, respectively. The method was applied to analyze Danube water samples. Measured average concentrations varied between 2 and 39 ng/L for eleven compounds and another one could be detected under LOQ.     

On-line dialysis-SPE-CE of acidic drugs in biological samples

A fully automated method is presented for the determination of acidic drugs in urine and serum using on-line dialysis-solid-phase extraction (SPE)-capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection. With non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as test compounds, detection limits in the biological samples were 0.05-1.0 microgram ml-1. Calibration plots were linear over two orders of magnitude and the within-day and between-day repeatability were better than 10%. The CE capillary and SPE column were used for over 500 analyses; the dialysis membrane was replaced after 250 analyses. A general protocol for dialysis-SPE-CE which can be used for amphoteric and acidic drugs was devised. The present results show that this protocol has general validity and can be recommended for future work on other classes of drugs.     

Trace determination of sulfonylurea herbicides in water and grape samples by capillary zone electrophoresis using large volume sample stacking

A sensitive and reliable method using capillary zone electrophoresis with UV-diode array detection has been developed and validated for trace determination of residues of sulfonylurea herbicides in environmental water samples and grapes from different origins. The analytes included are triasulfuron, rimsulfuron, flazasulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and chlorsulfuron. Optimum separation has been achieved on a 48.5-cm × 50-μm (effective length 40 cm) bubble cell capillary using 90 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.8, by applying a voltage of 20 kV at 25 °C and using p-aminobenzoic acid as the internal standard. In order to increase sensitivity, large volume sample stacking with polarity switching has been applied as on-line preconcentration methodology. For water samples, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure based on the use of Oasis HLB cartridges was applied for off-line preconcentration and cleanup. For grape samples, the SPE procedure was achieved with C₁₈ sorbent, after extraction of the compounds with MeOH:H₂O (1:1) by sonication. The limits of detection for the studied compounds were between 0.04 and 0.12 μg/L for water samples and 0.97 and 8.30 μg/kg in the case of grape samples, lower in all cases than the maximum residue limits permitted by the EU for this kind of food. The developed methodology has demonstrated its suitability for the monitoring of these residues in environmental water and grape samples with high sensitivity, precision, and satisfactory recoveries.     

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.     

固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱法测定木制家具中氯酚类及菊酯类防腐剂

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱(SPE-GC-MS)检测含氯酚类化合物(2,4-二氯苯酚、2,4,6-三氯苯酚、2,4,5-三氯苯酚、2,3,4,6-四氯苯酚、五氯苯酚、林丹)和菊酯类化合物(氯菊酯、氟氯氰菊酯、氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯)等10种木材防腐剂的方法。对家具样品采用超声萃取法、以甲醇为提取剂在室温下反复提取2次,提取液经浓缩后,加入碳酸钾和乙酰酐衍生化,将衍生化后的溶液通过Oasis HLB固相萃取柱净化,用乙酸乙酯洗脱并收集检测。采用该方法实现了家具中10种木材防腐剂的分离检测,该方法中氯酚类防腐剂定量限为1 mg/kg、菊酯类防腐剂定量限为5 mg/kg,平均回收率为76.0%～108.8%。应用该方法对市场上销售的木制家具进行了检测,在部分家具中检出含有少量林丹。实验结果证明,该方法准确、灵敏,可有效地应用于木制家具中防腐剂的实际检验工作中。     

Solid phase extractive preconcentration coupled to gas chromatography-atomic emission detection for the determination of chlorophenols in water samples

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by derivatization and gas chromatography-atomic emission detection (GC-AED) was evaluated for the determination of five chlorophenols (CPs) in water samples. The derivatization was based on the esterification of phenolic compounds with ferrocenecarboxylic acid. The determination of the derivatized phenols was performed by GC-AED in the iron selective detection mode at 302 nm. The described method was tested on spiked water samples.The overall method gave detection limits of 1.6-3.7 ng L⁻¹ and recoveries of 90.9-104.5% for the examined mono- to trichlorophenols in 10 mL water samples. The CPs extracted from a 10 mL water sample with SPE were concentrated into 100 μL of organic solvent, a preconcentration factor of 100. The method was applied to lake and tap water samples, and CP contents between 6 and 51 ng L⁻¹ in lake water and between below the detection limit and 8 ng L⁻¹ in tap water were found for different CPs. The method is quick, simple and gives excellent recoveries, limits of detection and standard deviations.     

Simultaneous Determination of Various Classes of Pesticides Using Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatographyin Combination with Solid-Phase Extraction

The potential of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with UV-detection for the simultaneous determination of various selected pesticides in water samples was investigated. The developed method using solid-phase extraction showed high efficiency and good resolution with detection limits in the 0.2 to 0.5 ppm range. Comparison of several SPE cartridges demonstrates their suitability for the extraction of pesticides with different hydrophobicity achieving 5000-fold enrichment. The described method involving SPE procedure and MEKC separation enables the successful determination of a wide spectrum of pesticides in water in the range of maximum residue limits (MRLs).     

Automated trace level determination of glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid in water by on-line anion-exchange solid-phase extraction followed by cation-exchange liquid chromatography and post-column derivatization.

An automated method based on the on-line coupling of anion-exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) and cation-exchange liquid chromatography followed by post-column derivatization and fluorescence detection has been developed for the trace level determination of glyphosate and its primary conversion product aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) in water. PRP-X100 poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-trimethylammonium anion-exchange cartridges (20 x 2 mm, 10 microm) were selected for the SPE of glyphosate and AMPA. The ionic compounds present in the samples strongly influenced the extraction of both analytes; however, when an on-line ion-exchange clean-up step was introduced before sample SPE, the problem was largely solved. By processing 100-ml samples detection limits better than 0.02 microg/l for glyphosate and 0.1 microg/l for AMPA were achieved in river water. Both analytes were unstable in solution and the approach of storing samples on the PRP-X100 SPE cartridges was evaluated for a period of 1 month under three different storage conditions (deep freeze, refrigeration and 20 degrees C).     

新型毛细管内固相萃取-气相色谱法检测纺织品中烷基酚类物质

建立了毛细管内固相萃取(SPE)-气相色谱(GC)检测纺织品中壬基酚和辛基酚含量的分析方法。通过比较4种性质不同固相萃取剂的萃取效果,筛选出对烷基酚(APs)类物质萃取效果最佳的固相萃取剂,将其作为填充物质制作毛细管内固相萃取柱,将毛细管内固相萃取法与气相色谱联用进行分析检测。最佳固相萃取剂为Abselut NEXUS,毛细管内固相萃取最佳条件为:1.2 μL甲醇和1.2 μL超纯水活化,1.2 μL甲醇洗脱,上样速率是0.4 μL/min。该法在较低浓度范围内呈现良好的线性相关性,对烷基酚的富集倍数约为100倍,对辛基酚和壬基酚的检出限分别为3.7 μg/L和4.5 μg/L,加标回收率分别为85.6%~98.2%和83.8%~95.7%,结果表明,此法能够简捷、迅速、有效地检测出纺织品中残留的烷基酚类物质。     

Determination of 5-nitroimidazoles and metabolites in environmental samples by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A method based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with UV detection has been developed for the determination of nine 5-nitroimidazoles (5-NDZs), including metabolites in river water samples. Due to the relative insensitivity of UV detection in MEKC, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method has been proposed that preconcentrates water samples fiftyfold and cleans them up off-line. An on-line preconcentration approach based on sweeping and the use of an extended light path fused-silica capillary (64.5?cm?×?50?μm i.d., 56?cm effective length) was also found to improve the sensitivity of the method. Separation was carried out in <21?min using 20?mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) and 150?mM SDS as the background electrolyte (BGE). The temperature of the capillary was kept constant at 20°C, a voltage of 25?kV was applied (normal mode), and a detected wavelength of 320?nm was utilized. Hydrodynamic injection (50?mbar for 15?s) of the samples, which were dissolved in 20?mM phosphate (pH 6.5), was employed. The limits of detection were lower than 1.1?μg?L(-1). Recoveries of >80% from spiked river water samples were obtained for most of the analytes at three different concentration levels with acceptable precision. This method could provide an efficient and economical alternative to the use of chromatographic methods to monitor nitroimidazole residues, thus supplementing the relatively few methods available for the analysis of these compounds in environmental samples.     

固相萃取/高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时检测环境水样中24种农药残留

建立了一种固相萃取/高效液相色谱-串联质谱(SPE/HPLC-MS/MS)同时检测水体中24种农药的分析方法。样品用乙腈提取后,经固相萃取小柱富集净化。以乙腈-0.1%(体积分数)甲酸水溶液为流动相梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源正离子模式下(ESI+)采用多反应监测(MRM)模式检测。结果显示,24种农药在1~200μg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系,相关系数(r2)均不小于0.998,水样中3个添加水平(5、20、100μg/L)下的回收率为65.9%~127.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.7%~14.2%;方法检出限为0.05~0.71 ng/L。采用该方法对大连地区10个河流入海口及2个水库的水样进行了检测,12个站位的样品中共检出10种农药,质量浓度为0.2~558.3 ng/L。结果表明,所建立的SPE/HPLC-MS/MS方法高效、灵敏、可靠,可用于实际水体中多种农药的同时检测。     

Comprehensive analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wastewater using stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

The objective of this study was the optimization and comparison of two extraction methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater (WW). A distribution study of the target compounds between the aqueous phase and the suspended particulate matter (SPM) has been performed in order to establish whether the analysis of both phases is necessary. In this sense, the feasibility of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the determination of 24 PAHs in WW samples has been evaluated. The results demonstrated the suitability of SBSE to perform a comprehensive analysis of liquid samples containing high amounts of SPM, such as in the determination of PAHs in WWs. A gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) method has been also optimized for the separation and detection of the target compounds, avoiding the co-elution of some groups of isomers, such as benzo[b], [j] and [k] fluoranthenes and indene[1,2,3-cd]pyrene/dibenz[a,h]anthracene. For that purpose, a specific capillary column developed for PAH determination was used. The SBSE procedure was validated and adequate parameters (such as recovery, linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification) were obtained. Finally, the validated method was applied to the analysis of real samples collected from an experimental WW treatment plant, detecting some PAHs at concentrations in the range 0.007-0.022 μg L(-1).