Direct rapid analysis of multiple PPCPs in municipal wastewater using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry without SPE pre-concentration.
Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was utilized to develop a rapid, sensitive and reliable method without solid phase extraction (SPE) pre-concentration for trace analysis of 11 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in inﬂuent and efﬂuent from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This method not only shortened the analysis time but also reduced analysis cost significantly by omitting SPE process and avoiding the consumption of SPE cartridge. Detection parameters for UHPLC-MS/MS analysis were optimized, including sample pH, eluent, mobile phase (solvent and additive), column temperature, and ﬂow rate. Under the optimal conditions, all analytes were well separated and detected within 8.0min by UHPLC-MS/MS. The method quantification limits (MQLs) for the 11 PPCPs ranged from 0.040 to 88ngL(-1) and from 0.030 to 90ngL(-1) for influent and effluent, respectively. The matrix effect was systematically investigated and quantified for different types of samples. The analysis of inﬂuent and efﬂuent samples of two WWTPs in Hong Kong revealed the presence of 11 PPCPs, including acyclovir, benzophenone-3, benzylparaben, carbamazepine, ethylparaben, fluconazole, fluoxetine, methylparaben, metronidazole, propylparaben, and ranitidine. Their concentrations ranged from 9.1 to 1810ngL(-1) in influent and from 6.5 to 823ngL(-1) in effluent samples collected from Hong Kong WWTPs.
Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ke
K
Yu
Bing
B
Li
Tong
T
Zhang
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000032:analysis; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000032:analysis; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000032:analysis; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000032:analysis; D006723:Hong Kong; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000032:analysis; D010226:Parabens / Q000032:analysis*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
D001577:Benzophenones; D010226:Parabens; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012722:Sewage; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D008795:Metronidazole; C012313:ethyl-p-hydroxybenzoate; D002220:Carbamazepine; D011899:Ranitidine; D015725:Fluconazole; C057775:benzylparaben; C005290:oxybenzone; C015358:methylparaben; D000212:Acyclovir; C006068:propylparaben