title: Development of a multi-residue analytical method, based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, for the simultaneous determination of 46 micro-contaminants in aqueous samples.
abstract: A multi-residue analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatographic separation, electrospray ionization with tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/MS-MS) was developed for the simultaneous analysis of 46 basic, neutral and acidic compounds covering a wide range of polarity (logK(OW)<0-5.9). The compound list included selected iodinated contrast media, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, stimulants, beta-blockers, antibiotics, lipid regulators, anti-histamines, psychiatric drugs, herbicides, corrosion inhibitors and the gastric acid regulator pantoprazole. The main feature of the presented method was a simultaneous solid phase extraction (SPE) of all analytes followed by simultaneous separation and detection by HPLC/MS-MS with electrospray ionization in both positive and negative polarization within the same chromatogram. Optimization of electrospray drying gas temperature resulted in using a temperature gradient on the ion source. Six different polymeric sorbents for SPE were compared with respect to recoveries, taking into account the specific surface of each sorbent. Method quantitation limits (MQL) in surface and seawater ranged from 1.2 to 28 ng/L, in wastewater from 5.0 to 160 ng/L, respectively. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the method, river water, treated wastewater and seawater were analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department Applied Geology, Geoscience Centre of the University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. karsten.noedler@geo.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nödler
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Licha
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bester
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauter
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005561:Formates; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C030544:formic acid