Simultaneous determination of drugs of abuse and their main metabolites using pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
An analytical method based on pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography-(electrospray)-tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the simultaneous determination of nicotine, four drugs of abuse (opiates and alkaloids) and four of their main metabolites in sewage sludge. The optimum PLE conditions were: cell volume 11 mL, dichloromethane as extraction solvent, 5 min preheating time, 100 °C temperature, 1500 psi pressure, 60% flush volume, 1 cycle, 15 min static extraction time, 120 s purge time and sample weight 1g. Absolute recoveries for all compounds were between 25% and 65%. Data acquisition was done by selective reaction monitoring and the two most abundant product ions were used for confirmation. Limits of detection were lower than 10 μg/kg dry weight (d.w.) and limits of quantification were between 2.5 and 25 μg/kg (d.w.). The highest concentrations found in sludge samples from two sewage treatment plants were for nicotine and cocaine in the range of 23-173 μg/kg (d.w.) and 9-232 μg/kg (d.w.) respectively.
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Sescelades Campus, Tarragona 43007, Spain.
Paula
P
Arbeláez
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Sescelades Campus, Tarragona 43007, Spain.
Francesc
F
Borrull
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Sescelades Campus, Tarragona 43007, Spain. Electronic address: rosamaria.marce@urv.cat.
Rosa
R
Maria Marcé
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Sescelades Campus, Tarragona 43007, Spain.
Eva
E
Pocurull
D002138:Calibration; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis; D003061:Codeine / Q000032:analysis; D008691:Methadone / Q000032:analysis; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012722:Sewage; D012997:Solvents; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D012722:Sewage; D012997:Solvents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009020:Morphine; D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone; D003061:Codeine
Drugs of abuse; Liquid chromatography; Pressurized liquid extraction; Sewage sludge; Tandem mass spectrometry