title: Determination of 15 N-nitrosodimethylamine precursors in different water matrices by automated on-line solid-phase extraction ultra-high-performance-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: A new methodology based on on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) ultra-high-performance-liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS-MS) for the determination of 15 individual anthropogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors was developed. On-line SPE was performed by passing 2mL of the water sample through a Hypersil GOLD aQ column and chromatographic separation was done using a Kinetex Biphenyl column using methanol and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution as a mobile phase. For unequivocal identification and confirmation, two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions were monitored per compound. Quantification was performed by internal standard approach and matrix match calibration. The main advantages of the developed method are high sensitivity (limits of detection in the sub ng/L range), selectivity due to the use of tandem mass spectrometry, precision and minimum sample manipulation as well as fast analytical response. Process efficiency and recovery were also evaluated for all the target compounds. As part of the validation procedure, the method was applied in a sampling campaign for the analysis of influent and secondary effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Girona, Spain. Additionally, the effluent from a nanofiltration (NF) membrane system used for water recycling was monitored. The percentage of NDMA formation explained by the measured precursors was also quantified.
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H(2)O Building, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain. Electronic address: mjfarre@icra.cat.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H(2)O Building, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Insa
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (LEQUIA), Institut de Medi Ambient, Campus Montilivi s/n, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mamo
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H(2)O Building, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Analysis of WWTP samples; N-nitrosodimethylamine; NDMA precursors; On-line pre-concentration; Ultra-high-performance-liquid chromatography