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Folorunsho O, Bogush A, Kourtchev I. A new on-line SPE LC-HRMS method for simultaneous analysis of selected emerging contaminants in surface waters. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:284-296. [PMID: 36541663 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay01574a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years emerging contaminants (ECs) have received significant attention due to their widespread detection in surface waters and concerns that these compounds can cause adverse ecological and/or human health effects. Therefore, accurate methods for determining and quantifying ECs in surface water are essential for estimating their environmental impact. This work describes the development, validation and application of a sensitive multiclass method for simultaneous determination of 22 per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs), 3 pharmaceuticals, 15 pesticides, and 2 bisphenols in surface water using on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). The method allows simultaneous sample clean-up from interfering matrices and lower limits of detection (LODs) by injecting a large sample volume into the LC system without compromising chromatographic efficiency and resolution. Linearity of response over several orders of magnitude was demonstrated for all tested compounds (R2 > 0.99), with the LODs ranging from 0.8 and 33.7 pg mL-1, allowing detection of ECs at trace levels in surface water. The method showed acceptable accuracy and precision (CV, % and RE below 20%) for all tested ECs. It also provided recoveries between 60% and 130% for all tested ECs. The validated method was successfully applied for analysis of surface water samples from three rivers (Cam, Ouse and Thames) in England. Several ECs, including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), dimethyl-metatoluamide (DEET) and ibuprofen were observed in analysed surface water above the method's limit of quantitation (LOQ), with concentrations ranging between 3.5 and 460 pg mL-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omotola Folorunsho
- Centre for Agroecology Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University, Wolston Lane, Ryton on Dunsmore, CV8 3LG, UK.
| | - Anna Bogush
- Centre for Agroecology Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University, Wolston Lane, Ryton on Dunsmore, CV8 3LG, UK.
| | - Ivan Kourtchev
- Centre for Agroecology Water and Resilience (CAWR), Coventry University, Wolston Lane, Ryton on Dunsmore, CV8 3LG, UK.
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Wang Z, Li A, Liao Y, Shuang C, Pan Y, Zhang Y, Sun H, Zhou Q, Li W. The key role of hydrophobicity in the determination of pharmaceuticals by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry under the interference of natural organic matter. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:83071-83080. [PMID: 35759101 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21674-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The determination of trace-level pharmaceuticals in water is generally performed using liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, which is susceptible to interference from non-target substances, such as natural organic matter (NOM). In this study, the interference of NOM on the determination of 20 typical pharmaceuticals using solid-phase extraction followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-tqMS) was investigated with a combined consideration of recoveries, matrix effects, and process efficiencies. The results showed that the recoveries of most pharmaceuticals were not significantly affected by NOM concentrations of 1-50 mg/L. The matrix effects and process efficiencies decreased linearly with increasing logarithmic NOM concentrations, and the changes in matrix effects and process efficiencies both exhibited negative linear correlations with the pharmaceuticals' hydrophobicity (logKow). This result indicated that the determination of hydrophilic pharmaceuticals suffered from more severe NOM interference, as NOM entered the ESI source together with hydrophilic pharmaceuticals after UPLC separation and subsequently weakened the ionization efficiency of these pharmaceuticals. According to the correlations between logKow and the changes in matrix effects and process efficiencies, the pharmaceutical determination in positive/negative ESI modes with logKow ≤ 3.80/4.27 is considered to be significantly affected by NOM, accompanied by > 20% changes in matrix effects and process efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Aimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Quanzhou Institute for Environmental Protection Industry, Nanjing University, Quanzhou, 362008, China.
| | - Yufeng Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chendong Shuang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Quanzhou Institute for Environmental Protection Industry, Nanjing University, Quanzhou, 362008, China
| | - Yang Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hongfang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wentao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Varma K, Jha PK, Mukherjee S, Singhal A, Kumar M. Provenances, preponderances, and distribution of humic acids and organic pollutants in hydro-geosphere: The co-existence, interaction and isotopic biomarkers in the riverine ecosystem. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 313:114996. [PMID: 35395527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to critically review the importance of geochemical fingerprinting and tracing using biomarkers and stable isotopes in the riverine ecosystem and depicts that isotopic ratios of δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S can be used for tracing pollution sources. Stable isotopes like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur are being used for this purpose, and their isotopic signatures are primarily used to distinguish close sources of organic matter through dual isotopes. The present review is articulated to bridge the critical research gaps of the previous and contemporary documented literature on the genesis and transport of OM between freshwater and marine systems. This review comprehensively provides methods and techniques in geochemical tracing and discusses the future directions to address the challenges of the current methods to enhance the knowledge about the source identification of organic matter in the riverine environment. Tracer geochemistry emphasizes the implications of elemental abundances and isotope ratio variations in geologic substances to track natural earth processes, anthropogenic contaminants, and geochemical signatures in the hydrologic system. The principal constituent of organic matter comprises humic substances like humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin, and these comprise 50-75% of the sediments and DOC in natural waters. Their structural and functional characterization is required to elucidate the transport and fate of organic matter, which are often influenced by several paleoenvironmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kriti Varma
- Centre of Environmental Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pawan Kumar Jha
- Centre of Environmental Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Santanu Mukherjee
- School of Agriculture Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anjali Singhal
- Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School for Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, 248007, India.
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Evaluation of Sample Preparation Methods for Non-Target Screening of Organic Micropollutants in Urban Waters Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26237064. [PMID: 34885646 PMCID: PMC8659043 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-target screening (NTS) has gained interest in recent years for environmental monitoring purposes because it enables the analysis of a large number of pollutants without predefined lists of molecules. However, sample preparation methods are diverse, and few have been systematically compared in terms of the amount and relevance of the information obtained by subsequent NTS analysis. The goal of this work was to compare a large number of sample extraction methods for the unknown screening of urban waters. Various phases were tested for the solid-phase extraction of micropollutants from these waters. The evaluation of the different phases was assessed by statistical analysis based on the number of detected molecules, their range, and physicochemical properties (molecular weight, standard recoveries, polarity, and optical properties). Though each cartridge provided its own advantages, a multilayer cartridge combining several phases gathered more information in one single extraction by benefiting from the specificity of each one of its layers.
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Svahn O, Björklund E. High Flow-Rate Sample Loading in Large Volume Whole Water Organic Trace Analysis Using Positive Pressure and Finely Ground Sand as a SPE-Column In-Line Filter. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24071426. [PMID: 30978956 PMCID: PMC6479934 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
By using an innovative, positive pressure sample loading technique in combination with an in-line filter of finely ground sand the bottleneck of solid phase extraction (SPE) can be reduced. Recently published work by us has shown the proof of concept of the technique. In this work, emphasis is put on the SPE flow rate and method validation for 26 compounds of emerging environmental concern, mainly from the 1st and 2nd EU Watch List, with various physicochemical properties. The mean absolute recoveries in % and relative standard deviations (RSD) in % for the investigated compounds from spiked pure water samples at the three investigated flow rates of 10, 20, and 40 mL/min were 63.2% (3.2%), 66.9% (3.3%), and 69.0% (4.0%), respectively. All three flow rates produced highly repeatable results, and this allowed a flow rate increase of up to 40 mL/min for a 200 mg, 6 mL, reversed phase SPE cartridge without compromising the recoveries. This figure is more than four times the maximum flow rate recommended by manufacturers. It was indicated that some compounds, especially pronounced for the investigated macrolide molecules, might suffer when long contact times with the sample glass bottle occurs. A reduced contact time somewhat decreases this complication. A very good repeatability also held true for experiments on both spiked matrix-rich pond water (high and low concentrations) and recipient waters (river and wastewater) applying 40 mL/min. This work has shown that, for a large number of compounds of widely differing physicochemical properties, there is a generous flow rate window from 10 to 40 mL/min where sample loading can be conducted. A sample volume of 0.5 L, which at the recommended maximum flow rate speed of 10 mL/min, would previously take 50 min, can now be processed in 12 min using a flow rate of 40 mL/min. This saves 38 min per processed sample. This low-cost technology allows the sample to be transferred to the SPE-column, closer to the sample location and by the person taking the sample. This further means that only the sample cartridge would need to be sent to the laboratory, instead of the whole water sample, like today’s procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Svahn
- Department of Environmental Science and Bioscience, Faculty of Natural Science, Kristianstad University, SE-291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden.
| | - Erland Björklund
- Department of Environmental Science and Bioscience, Faculty of Natural Science, Kristianstad University, SE-291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden.
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Merel S, Snyder SA. Critical assessment of the ubiquitous occurrence and fate of the insect repellent N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide in water. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 96:98-117. [PMID: 27639850 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The insect repellent diethyltoluamide (DEET) is among the most frequently detected organic chemical contaminants in water across a wide range of geographies from around the world. These observations are raising critical questions and increasing concerns regarding potential environmental relevance, particularly when the emergence of severe neurological conditions attributed to the Zika virus has increased the use of insect repellents. After dermal application, DEET is washed from the skin when bathing and enters the municipal sewer system before discharge into the environment. Mainly measured by gas chromatography or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS or LC-MS), more than 200 peer-reviewed publications have already reported concentrations of DEET ranging ng/L to mg/L in several water matrices from North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and more recently Africa and South America. While conventional wastewater treatment technology has limited capacity of removal, advanced technologies are capable of better attenuation and could lower the environmental discharge of organic contaminants, including DEET. For instance, adsorption on activated carbon, desalinating membrane processes (nanofiltration and reverse osmosis), ozonation, and advanced oxidation processes can achieve 50% to essentially 100% DEET attenuation. Despite the abundant literature on the topic, the ubiquity of DEET in the environment still raises questions due to the apparent lack of obvious spatio-temporal trends in concentrations measured in surface water, which does not fit the expected usage pattern of insect repellents. Moreover, two recent studies showed discrepancies between the concentrations obtained by GC-MS and LC-MS analyses. While the occurrence of DEET in the environment is well established, the concentrations reported should be interpreted cautiously, considering the disparities in methodologies applied and occurrence patterns observed. Therefore, this manuscript provides a critical overview of the origin of DEET in the environment, the relevant analytical methods, the occurrence reported in peer-reviewed literature, and the attenuation efficacy of water treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Merel
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson 85721, AZ, USA; Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 12 Hölderlinstraße, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Shane A Snyder
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson 85721, AZ, USA.
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Minor EC, Swenson MM, Mattson BM, Oyler AR. Structural characterization of dissolved organic matter: a review of current techniques for isolation and analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2014; 16:2064-79. [PMID: 24668418 DOI: 10.1039/c4em00062e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic systems plays many environmental roles: providing building blocks and energy for aquatic biota, acting as a sunscreen in surface water, and interacting with anthropogenic compounds to affect their ultimate fate in the environment. Such interactions are a function of DOM composition, which is difficult to ascertain due to its heterogeneity and the co-occurring matrix effects in most aquatic samples. This review focuses on current approaches to the chemical structural characterization of DOM, ranging from those applicable to bulk samples and in situ analyses (UV-visible spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy) through the concentration/isolation of DOM followed by the application of one or more analytical techniques, to the detailed separation and analysis of individual compounds or compound classes. Also provided is a brief overview of the main techniques used to characterize isolated DOM: mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance mass spectrometry (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Minor
- Large Lakes Observatory, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Duluth, RLB 211, 2205 East 5th St, Duluth, MN 55812, USA.
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Ruiz SH, Wickramasekara S, Abrell L, Gao X, Chefetz B, Chorover J. Complexation of trace organic contaminants with fractionated dissolved organic matter: implications for mass spectrometric quantification. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 91:344-350. [PMID: 23276460 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Interaction with aqueous phase dissolved organic matter (DOM) can alter the fate of trace organic contaminants of emerging concern once they enter the water cycle. In order to probe possible DOM binding mechanisms and their consequences for contaminant detection and quantification in natural waters, a set of laboratory experiments was conducted with aqueous solutions containing various operationally-defined "hydrophilic" and "hydrophobic" freshwater DOM fractions isolated by resin adsorption techniques from reference Suwannee River natural organic matter (SROM). Per unit mass of SROM carbon, hydrophobic acids (HoA) comprised the largest C fraction (0.63±0.029), followed by hydrophilic-neutrals (HiN, 0.11±0.01) and acids (HiA, 0.09±0.017). Aqueous solutions comprising 8mgL(-1) DOC of each SROM fraction were spiked with a concentration range (10-1000μgL(-1)) of bisphenol A (BPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), or ibuprofen (IBU) as model target compounds in 24mM NH4HCO3 background electrolyte at pH 7.4. Contaminant interaction with the SROM fractions was probed using fluorescence spectroscopy, and effects on quantitative analysis of the target compounds were measured using direct aqueous-injection liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Total quenching was greater for the hydrophilic fractions of SROM and associations were principally with protein-like and fulvic acid-like constituents. Whereas LC-MS/MS recoveries indicated relatively weak interactions with most SROM factions, an important exception was the HiA fraction, which diminished recovery of CBZ and IBU by ca. 30% and 70%, respectively, indicating relatively strong molecular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Hernandez Ruiz
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, 1177 E 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM): a critical review. Anal Bioanal Chem 2012; 405:109-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6363-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 418] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2012] [Revised: 08/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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