title: Method for the fast determination of bromate, nitrate and nitrite by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and their monitoring in Saudi Arabian drinking water with chemometric data treatment.
abstract: A rapid, sensitive and precise method for the determination of bromate (BrO3(-)), nitrate (NO3(-)) and nitrite (NO2(-)) in drinking water was developed with Ultra performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI/MS). The elution of BrO3(-), NO3(-) and NO2(-) was attained in less than two minutes in a reverse phase column. Quality parameters of the method were established; run-to-run and day-to-day precisions were <3% when analysing standards at 10 µg L(-1). The limit of detection was 0.04 µg NO2(-) L(-1) and 0.03 µg L(-1) for both NO3(-)and BrO3(-). The developed UPLC-ESI/MS method was used to quantify these anions in metropolitan water from Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh areas) and commercial bottled water (from well or unknown source) after mere filtration steps. The quantified levels of NO3(-) were not found to pose a risk. In contrast, BrO3(-) was found above the maximum contaminant level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 25% and 33% of the bottled and metropolitan waters, respectively. NO2(-) was found at higher concentrations than the aforementioned limits in 70% and 92% of the bottled and metropolitan water samples, respectively. Therefore, remediation measures or improvements in the disinfection treatments are required. The concentrations of BrO3(-), NO3(-) and NO2(-) were mapped with Principal Component analysis (PCA), which differentiated metropolitan water from bottled water through the concentrations of BrO3(-) and NO3(-) mainly. Furthermore, it was possible to discriminate between well water; blend of well water and desalinated water; and desalinated water. The point or source (region) was found to not be distinctive.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Rizwan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saikh Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wabaidur
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Zeid Abdullah
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Alothman
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: R.Busquets@Kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naushad
mesh_terms: D001959:Bromates / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D048088:Informatics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001959:Bromates; D060766:Drinking Water; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bromate; Drinking water; Nitrate; Nitrite; Saudi Arabia; UPLC–MS