Determination of nine emerging pesticides at trace level in aqueous samples using fully automated on-line solid phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

On-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) offers an easy and fast strategy to analyze the organic contaminants in environmental samples with high sensitivity and selectivity. This paper described an in-house designed on-line SPE system and an on-line SPE-LC-MS method for the determination of pesticides at trace levels in water samples. The system was assembled from an eight-position valve, a piston pump, a six-port valve and a C18 SPE column, and significantly reduced analysis time by achieving full automation. Moreover, the use of a large enrichment volume (50?mL) significantly enhanced method sensitivity. Using this on-line SPE system, an on-line SPE-LC-MS method was developed for the determination of nine pesticides at trace levels in lake water and seawater sample. Under optimized conditions, method detection limits (MDLs) were 1.00–10.0?ng?L^?1.     

Rapid narrow band elution for on-line SPE using a novel solvent plug injection technique

Determination of trace constituents in biological and environmental samples usually requires a pre-concentration step. While solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been widely used, it is slow, labor intensive and adversely affected by analytical errors from handling. On-line SPE eliminates some of the flaws but often suffers from solvent compatibility problems with the subsequent chromatography separation. In this study, we are presenting a technical solution for overcoming some of these compatibility issues, by utilizing a fully automated, focused SPE sample transfer technique utilizing narrow-band solvent plugs, for seamless hyphenation with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or flow injection mass spectrometry (MS). A wide range of pharmaceutical compounds was studied in different sample matrices. Short plugs of high elution strength solvent were generated by means of an electrically actuated sample loop and enrichment and transfer steps monitored using on-line SPE-MS. The impact of the solvent plugs on chromatographic separation was studied using hyphenated SPE-LC-MS. By carefully examining elution profiles of solvent plugs of different compositions, optimum conditions for quantitative elution within well-defined volumes were found for all substances. In addition, the highly focused elution bands resulted in excellent retention time and peak area reproducibilities when injected on-line onto HPLC columns. Finally, to demonstrate proof-of-principle, the fully integrated on-line SPE-LC-MS system was applied to the analysis of spiked urine and river water samples.     

High throughput on-line solid phase extraction/tandem mass spectrometric determination of paclitaxel in human serum

The feasibility of high throughput on-line solid phase extraction/tandem mass spectrometry (SPE/MS/MS) is tested for target analysis of paclitaxel in human serum. The use of a dual Prospekt system, with parallel SPE and elution directly to the mass spectrometer, resulted in a cycle time of 80 seconds for the entire, fully automated assay. The assay proved to be linear from 1 to 1000 ng/mL. Cartridges packed with small sorbent particles functioned both as SPE cartridges and as short analytical columns.     

SPE – Microwave‐assisted extraction coupled system for the extraction of pesticides from water samples

SPE is a commonly applied technique for preconcentration of pesticides from water samples. Microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) technique is the extraction applied for preconcentration of different compounds from solid samples. SPE coupled with MAE is capable of preconcentrating these compounds from water samples too. This investigation was aimed at improving the efficiency of atrazine, alachlor, and α‐cypermethrin pesticide extraction from the spiked water samples applying SPE followed by MAE. In this way, MAE served for elution of pesticides from C₁₈‐extraction disks with solvent heated by microwave energy. Various elution conditions were tested for their effects on the extraction efficiency of the SPE–MAE combined technique. Several parameters, such as elution solvent volume (mL), elution temperature (°C), and duration of elution (min), affect the extraction efficiency of the SPE–MAE coupled system and need to be optimized for the selected pesticides. In order to develop a mathematical model, 15 experiments were performed in the central composite design. The equation was then used to predict recoveries of the pesticides under specific experimental conditions. Optimization of microwave extraction was accomplished using the genetic algorithm approach. Best results were achieved using 20 mL of ethanol at 60°C. Optimal hold time was 5 min and 24 s. The SPE–MAE combination was also compared with the conventional SPE extraction technique with elution of a nonpolar or a moderately polar compound with nonpolar solvents.     

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).     

Determination of pesticides in wine using micellar electrokinetic chromatography with UV detection and sample stacking

In this work, the analysis of a group of four fungicides (pyrimethanil, nuarimol, procymidone and cyprodinil) and one insecticide (pirimicarb) by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with UV detection using the on-line preconcentration strategy called reversed electrode polarity stacking mode (REPSM) is proposed. After optimisation, an adequate separation electrolyte for the separation and stacking of these pesticides was obtained which consisted of 100 mM borate, 60 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), at pH 9.0 and 2% 2-propanol. The use of this running buffer together with the REPSM preconcentration method provided limits of detection (LODs) between 38.3 and 241 microg/L. In order to apply the developed methodology for the analysis of these pesticides in wine samples, several off-line preconcentration strategies (mainly, solid-phase extraction, SPE, and solid-phase microextraction, SPME) were tested. Although the use of a SPE procedure, optimized in this work for water samples, using Oasis HLB cartridges, provided mean recovery values between 79 and 100% for spiked water samples, it could not be applied to the extraction of these pesticides from wine samples due to high interference from the sample matrix. However, the use of a SPME procedure using polydimethylsiloxane/divynilbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fibers allowed the selective extraction of four of the five pesticides which could be perfectly determined. The final combination of the off-line SPME and on-line REPSM preconcentration strategies allowed obtaining LODs between 17.6 and 32.3 microg/L.     

Use of solid-phase extraction in various of its modalities for sample preparation in the determination of estrogens and progestogens in sediment and water.

The environmental analysis of estrogens and progestogens at physiologically active concentrations (low ng/l range) requires the use of very sensitive and selective methods, which, in most cases, make necessary an extraction/purification step. In this study, various procedures for the determination of several estrogens (estriol, estradiol, ethynyl estradiol, estrone, and diethylstilbestrol) and progestogens (progesterone, norethindrone, and levonorgestrel) in environmental matrices, including water and river sediment, are described. In all procedures, final analysis of the target compounds is performed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry, whereas sample preparation always includes a solid-phase extraction (SPE) step. For this SPE step. various types of sorbents, protocols, and devices have been used, and their respective advantages and disadvantages are discussed. For the off-line SPE of estrogens and progestogens from water samples, a syringe type cartridge LiChrolut RP-18 (500 mg) was selected out of two other sorbents--LiChrolut EN (200 mg) and Isolut ENV (500 mg)--for use with the automated sample preparation instrument ASPEC XL. For the on-line SPE and analysis of water samples the 10 mm x 2 mm I.D. HySphere-Resin-GP cartridge, was preferred to the C18 Baker, the PLRP-S, and the Oasis HLB. for use with the Prospekt system. A completely manual protocol based on the use of Sep-Pak C18 Plus cartridges was developed for purification of sediment extracts. All procedures were shown to be linear over a wide range of concentration, exhibited satisfactory repeatability and accuracy, and reached limits of detection usually in the low ng/l and ng/g range. Comparatively, the on-line method was shown to be advantageous in terms of automation and general method performance.     

Determination of acephate and its degradation product methamidophos in soil and water by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and GC-MS

Acephate and its metabolite, methamidophos, are both highly polar organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and are therefore highly soluble in water, which leads to difficulties when traditional methods of extraction, such as LLE (liquid–liquid extraction), are used. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a relatively new, highly versatile method, which has proven successful in many cases that were considered problematic in the past. In this study, several adsorbents (polymeric and silica based) and parameters are considered and modified to obtain maximum recovery. Maximum recoveries for acephate and methamidophos were found to be 90–95% and 85–90% respectively with Oasis HLB cartridges and methylene chloride as the elution solvent. In order to establish applicability and reliability, the matrix effect of several real water and solid (compost and soil) samples was evaluated. A 20–30% diminution of recovery is noted for some samples with a complex matrix containing a high amount of dissolved organic matter.     

Application of HPLC and TLC with diode array detection after SPE to the determination of pesticides in water samples from the Zemborzycki Reservoir (Lublin, southeastern Poland)

The application of TLC with a diode array detector (TLC-DAD) and HPLC-DAD after SPE for identification and quantitative analysis of pesticides in water samples is demonstrated. The procedures described for the determination of compounds are inexpensive and can be applied to routine analysis of analytes in water samples after preliminary cleanup and concentration by SPE. Average recoveries for four different cartridges and three solvents by the proposed HPLC-DAD method after SPE also are presented. The efficiency of the SPE procedure was evaluated using real water samples from the Zemborzycki Reservoir, near Lublin, southeastern Poland. The method was validated for precision, repeatability, and accuracy.     

Determination of herbicides in mineral and stagnant waters at ng/L levels using capillary electrophoresis and UV detection combined with solid-phase extraction and sample stacking

In this work, the combined use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and on-line preconcentration strategies as normal stacking mode (NSM) and stacking with matrix removal (SWMR) for the ultrasensitive and simultaneous capillary electrophoresis-ultraviolet analysis (CE-UV) of five triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide pesticides (i.e., diclosulam, cloransulam-methyl, flumetsulam, metosulam and florasulam) in different types of water is investigated. An adequate separation electrolyte for the separation and stacking of these pesticides was obtained, considering also its compatibility with MS detection, which consisted of 24 mM formic acid and 16 mM ammonium carbonate at pH 6.4. It was observed that the use of this running buffer together with the SWMR preconcentration method provided the best results in terms of sensitivity (between 6.54 and 11.9 microg/L) and peak efficiency (up to 550000 theoretical plates per meter, NTP/m). When this on-line preconcentration procedure was combined with an off-line sample preconcentration step as SPE using C18 cartridges, the selected herbicides could be detected in the ng/L range. The optimized SPE-SWMR-CE-UV method was applied to the determination of the selected group of pesticides in spiked and non-spiked mineral and stagnant waters. Recoveries ranged between 55 and 110% and limits of detection between 131 and 342 ng/L. This work shows the great possibilities of the combined use of SPE-SWMR-CE-UV to overcome the sensitivity problems usually linked to CE analysis.     

A fully automated system for analysis of pesticides in water: on-line extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem photodiode array/postcolumn derivatization/fluorescence detection.

A fully automated system for on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem detection with a photodiode array detector and a fluorescence detector (after postcolumn derivatization) was developed for analysis of many chemical classes of pesticides and their major conversion products in aquatic systems. An automated on-line-SPE system (Prospekt) operated with reversed-phase cartridges (PRP-1) extracts analytes from 100 mL acidified (pH = 3) filtered water sample. On-line HPLC analysis is performed with a 15 cm C18 analytical column eluted with a mobile phase of phosphate (pH = 3)-acetonitrile in 25 min linear gradient mode. Solutes are detected by tandem diode array/derivatization/fluorescence detection. The system is controlled and monitored by a single computer operated with Millenium software. Recoveries of most analytes in samples fortified at 1 microgram/L are > 90%, with relative standard deviation values of < 5%. For a few very polar analytes, mostly N-methylcarbamoyloximes (i.e., aldicarb sulfone, methomyl, and oxamyl), recoveries are < 20%. However, for these compounds, as well as for the rest of the N-methylcarbamates except for aldicarb sulfoxide and butoxycarboxim, the limits of detection (LODs) are 0.005-0.05 microgram/L. LODs for aldicarb sulfoxide and butoxycarboxim are 0.2 and 0.1 microgram, respectively. LODs for the rest of the analytes except 4-nitrophenol, bentazone, captan, decamethrin, and MCPA are 0.05-0.1 microgram/L. LODs for the latter compounds are 0.2-1.0 microgram/L. The system can be operated unattended.     

MEKC combined with SPE and sample stacking for multiple analysis of pesticides in water samples at the ng/L level

In this work, a new multiresidue analytical method based on MEKC with UV detection combined with SPE as off-line preconcentration strategy, and reversed-electrode polarity stacking mode (REPSM) as on-line stacking procedure, has been developed for the monitoring of 12 pesticides (carbendazim, pirimicarb, metalaxyl, pyrimethanil, procymidone, nuarimol, azoxystrobin, tebufenozide, fenarimol, benalaxyl, penconazole, and tetradifon) that are currently being used in the Canary Islands (Spain). The optimized MEKC buffer, consisting of 100 mM sodium tetraborate and 30 mM SDS at pH 8.5 with 6% v/v 1-propanol, provided baseline resolution of the 12 pesticides in less than 20 min. The developed method was applied to the analysis of mineral, stagnant, and tap water samples. The proposed SPE-REPSM-MEKC-UV method showed high extraction efficiencies with detection limits (LODs) at the low ng/L level providing LOD values down to 64 ng/L for these real samples.     

Simple and rapid screening procedure for pesticides in water using SPE and HPLC/DAD detection

An HPLC method, using a photodiode array detector (DAD) has been developed for the simultaneous screening of pesticides. A solid phase extraction system (SPE) has been combined, off-line, with the HPLC/DAD to isolate, recover and quantify pesticides from water samples at ppb levels. The pesticides are eluted from a Hypersil C₁₈ column 5 μm applying a solvent elution programme with two steps, isocratic and gradient mode, in reverse phase. Full UV spectra from 200 to 400 nm are recorded on-line during the analysis and may be compared to stored spectra. The method has been applied to the determination of pesticides in real water samples.     

Measurement of trace levels of antibiotics in river water using on-line enrichment and triple-quadrupole LC-MS/MS

This study presents the development of an automated on-line solid phase extraction (SPE)-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 23 antibiotics in environmental water samples. After optimisation of LC-MS/MS conditions, SPE parameters such as sorbent type, sample pH or sample volume were optimised. Antibiotic recoveries ranged from 64% to 98% and compared favourably with those achieved using off-line SPE. Limits of detection were in the range 0.5-13.7 ng L⁻¹.This on-line SPE-LC-MS/MS procedure was applied to the analysis of water samples taken in three rivers within the Seine River basin, near Paris (France). The obtained results revealed the occurrence of 12 antibiotics, including tylosin, erythromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, oxolinic acid, flumequine, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and vancomycin (2-1435 ng L⁻¹).     

Multi-Residue Analysis of Some Polar Pesticides in Water Samples with SPE and LC–MS–MS

In the present study a multi-residue analytical method was developed for monitoring some polar pesticides such as acephate, methamidophos, carbofuran, isoproturon, dimethoate in water with SPE (solid-phase extraction) and LC–MS–MS. Acetochlor was taken as surrogate, and alachlor as internal standard. SPE with different types of columns was compared with LLE (liquid-liquid extraction). Further, the breakthrough volume for different pesticides was determined. The results showed that the selected pesticides can be determined very sensitively with LC–MS–MS. The minimum detectable quantity (MDQ) for each pesticide was about 1.0 ng. To date, SPE cartridge studies showed that the Oasis HLB cartridges were suitable for further studies. However, for Oasis HLB cartridge, different pesticide showed different breakthrough volume. The results showed that for acephate and methamidophos, the breakthrough volume was about 30 mL of water sample, much less than the breakthrough volume of other pesticides studied. Because of the higher vapor pressure and higher Henry's constant of methamidophos, dimethoate and carbofuran, much attention should be paid on their losses in the evaporation step of the experiment. This analytical method can be applied to determine pesticide contamination in environmental water samples. Revised: 12 September 2005 and 21 October 2005     

Simple, rapid solid-phase extraction procedure for the determination of ultra-trace levels of pyrethroids in ground and sea water by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy

A method based on liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy with electrospray ionization in positive mode (LC/ESI-MS) to determine trace levels of pyrethroids in environmental water samples has been developed. The chromatographic and the MS parameters were optimized to obtain the best sensitivity and selectivity for all pesticides. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) using C18 cartridges was applied for preconcentration of pesticide trace levels (ng/L) in both ground and sea water samples. The preconcentration step was carried out with 800 mL of water sample modified with 200 mL of MeOH to improve the recovery percentages in the SPE procedure. The SPE-LC/ESI-MS methodology was applied to determine pyrethroids in ground and sea water samples spiked at ng/L concentration levels. Recoveries obtained in ground water were satisfactory (between 72 and 110%). However, an enhancement of the signals of all pesticides in the sea water was found due to the negative effect of the salt in the ionization source. To eliminate this effect a simple cleanup step of the SPE cartridge using 200 mL of Milli-Q water was performed. The cleanup removed the matrix effect completely from the marine samples. Thus, the recovery percentages ranged from 80 to 115%. The method was applied to determine ng/L of pyrethroids in both ground and marine water samples with precision values lower than 10%.     

Automated on-line-solid-phase extraction—high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection of phenolic compounds in sherry wine

A new analytical method has been developed for sample preconcentration and analysis of phenolic compounds in sherry wine using on-line solid-phase extraction(SPE)-HPLC-diode array detection. The samples of wine were injected and adsorbed onto polystyrene divinylbenzene cartridges; a robotic semiflexible system was used to automate the SPE stage. Chromatographic separation was carried out in a Symmetry C₁₈ steel cartridge, with a two-step elution gradient. Peaks were identified by comparing their UV spectra with the library of spectra compiled by the authors.     

Determination of analytes in medical herbs extracts by SPE coupled with two-dimensional planar chromatography in combination with diode array scanning densitometry and HPLC-diode array detector

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate an application of 2-D high-performance planar chromatography-diode array detector (DAD) and HPLC-DAD after solid-phase extraction (SPE) for identification and quantitative analysis of pesticides (isoproturon, aziprotryne, hexazinone, flufenoxuron, methabenzthiazuron, procymidone, and α-cypermethrin) in Melissa officinalis L. (Labiatae) samples. The procedure described for the determination of compounds is inexpensive and can be applied to routine analysis of analytes in medical herbs' samples after preliminary cleanup and concentration by SPE. Average recoveries on C18 SPE cartridges of pesticides eluted with 5 mL tetrahydrofuran by the proposed HPLC-DAD method, before and after 2-D-high-performance planar chromatography separation of analytes from M. officinalis L. samples spiked with pesticide at a concentration level of 10 μg/g in plant material are presented. Method validation parameters for the quantification of pesticides by the proposed HPLC-DAD after SPE method are also presented.     

Solid-phase extraction of phenols

Sample preparation for phenol analysis using solid-phase extraction (SPE) is reviewed. The scope of the review has been restricted to the literature dealing with the analysis of phenols as the main objective. The use, advantages and disadvantages of silica sorbents, polymeric, functionalized, carbon-based and mixed available sorbents, when applied to the separation and preconcentration of phenols, as well as the available experimental devices, are discussed. Other aspects such as phenol derivatisation prior to SPE, solid-phase microextraction, matrix effects and the storage of phenols in SPE cartridges, have been also discussed.     

Automated method for targeting analysis of prostanoids in human serum by on-line solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring

Prostanoids are potent biologically active lipid molecules demanding for analysis methods combining precision, sensitivity and high-throughput for pharmacological and clinical applications. The present research describes the development and validation of an on-line automated method based on solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) for the quantification of prostanoids in human serum. This approach overcomes the main limitation of previous methods involving manual protocols, such as analyte losses, metabolites degradation and time-consuming protocols, are minimized. Human serum (100 μL) was directly injected into an automatic solid-phase extraction workstation for cleanup and preconcentration of the target metabolites. The eluate was on-line transferred to a reversed-phase analytical column for chromatographic separation prior to mass spectrometry detection in selected reaction monitoring mode. The detection limits for the target analytes ranged from 2.3 to 63.3 pg on column. The precision (expressed as relative standard deviation) was within 3.30 and 6.15% for repeatability and from 4.16 to 11.11% for within-laboratory reproducibility. Accuracy was evaluated with spiked and non-spiked serum samples to estimate concentration differences that could be affected by matrix effects or inefficient SPE performance. Accuracy, estimated as recovery factor, was from 87.7 to 100% for the target compounds. The proposed method is reliable and has an excellent potential for high-throughput use in both clinical and research laboratories by minimizing analyst intervention.