Simultaneous determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in river water by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The gas chromatography/mass spectrometric assay method was developed for the determination of 13 non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in river water. Extraction was achieved by a liquid‐phase extraction procedure using methylene chloride. The extract was reacted for 30 min at 80°C based on the formation of methyl ester with 1.0 M HCl in methanol and extraction of the derivative with ethyl acetate, which was then measured by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The limit of quantification of NSAIDs was 1.0–60 ng/L and the calibration curve showed linearity being greater than r=0.997. The method was used to analyze ten river water samples from various regions in Korea. Diclofenac, indoprofen, ketoprofen and loxoprofen were detected at concentration of up to 1.29 μg/L in river water. The developed method may prove valuable for use in the national monitoring project of NSAIDs in surface water.