Analysis of polar hydrophilic aromatic sulfonates in waste water treatment plants by CE/MS and LC/MS.
The present work describes the development and optimization of a capillary (zone) electrophoresis/mass spectrometric (CE/MS) analysis method for polar hydrophilic aromatic sulfonates (ASs). The compounds were detected by negative ion electrospray ionization (NIESI) and selected ion monitoring (SIM). In comparison with CE/UV, for CE/MS a lower-concentration volatile ammonium acetate buffer (5 mM) without organic modifier and a higher separation voltage were better suited for separation. Sensitivity of CE/MS was slightly better than for CF/UV, with the limit of detection (LOD) ranging between 0.1 and 0.4 mg l(-1). For verification of the CE/MS results, ASs were also analysed by ion-pair liquid chromatography/diode array UV detection coupled in series with electrospray mass spectrometry (IPC/DAD/ESI-MS). Real water samples of different waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Catalonia (NE Spain) were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with LiChrolut EN and analysed with CE/MS and LC/MS. ASs were found in influent and effluent water samples of the WWTPs in the microg l(-1) concentration range. LC/MS offered a higher separation efficiency and sensitivity than CE/MS. Therefore with LC/MS more compounds could be identified in the WWTPs. The persistency of the ASs was distinct: some compounds were well degraded during the water treatment process, while others were quite persistent.
Loos
R
R
Department of Environmental Chemistry, IIQAB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
Riu
J
J
Alonso
M C
MC
Barceló
D
D
D001190:Arylsulfonates / Q000032:analysis*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D001190:Arylsulfonates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical