title: Multi-residue analysis of 90 emerging contaminants in liquid and solid environmental matrices by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Reported herein is new analytical methodology for the determination of 90 emerging contaminants (ECs) in liquid environmental matrices (crude wastewater, final effluent and river water). The application of a novel buffer, ammonium fluoride improved signal response for several ECs determined in negative ionisation mode. Most notably the sensitivity of steroid estrogens was improved by 4-5 times in environmental extracts. Method recoveries ranged from 40 to 152% in all matrices and method quantitation limits (MQLs) achieved were <1ngL(-1) for numerous ECs. Development of a microwave assisted extraction (MAE) protocol as an additional sample extraction step for solid matrices enabled 63 ECs to be simultaneously analysed in digested sludge. To the authors knowledge this is considerably more than any previously reported MAE method. Here, MQLs ranged from 0.1-24.1ngg(-1) dry weight. The application of MAE offers several advantages over pressurized liquid extraction including faster sample preparation, lower solvent requirements, and the ability to perform several extractions simultaneously as well as lower purchasing and running costs. To demonstrate the method's sensitivity, application to environmental samples revealed 68 and 40 ECs to be above their respective MQL in liquid environmental samples and digested sludge, respectively. To date, this is the most comprehensive multi-residue analytical method reported in the literature for the determination of ECs in both liquid and solid environmental matrices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.affiliation: Wessex Water, Bath, BA2 7WW, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Youdan
authors.affiliation: Wessex Water, Bath, BA2 7WW, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barden
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. Electronic address: b.kasprzyk-hordern@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasprzyk-Hordern
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Illicit drug; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Microwave assisted extraction; Pharmaceutical; Sludge; Wastewater