Quantitative determination of benzalkonium chloride in treated wood by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Multi-residue determination of biocides in dairy products and slurry feed using QuEChERS extraction and liquid chromatography combined with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QOrbitrap™-MS)

Given that the determination of biocides in food and feed is currently not routinely done, more information on these compounds is useful for consumer's safety. This work describes a sensitive and reliable method for quantitative analysis of a wide range of biocides in dairy products and slurry feed. The method comprises acetate-buffered QuEChERS extraction without clean-up. Analyses were performed by LC-Q-Orbitrap™-MS and a full-scan acquisition event without fragmentation was followed by five fragmentation events (data-independent acquisition-DIA). The quantitative validation was performed according to SANTE/11312/2021 at 10, 50 and 200 ng g-1 spiking levels, and the results showed that the vast majority of the compounds met the criteria for trueness and precision. The LOQ was 10 ng g-1 for the majority of biocides depending on the matrix. The method was successfully applied to quantify biocides in dairy products and feed.

Ionic liquids as potentially hazardous pollutants: Evidences of their presence in the environment and recent analytical developments

Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered to be very promising group of chemicals and the number of their potential applications is growing rapidly. However, while these compounds were originally proposed as a green alternative to classical solvents, there are certain doubts as to whether this classification is correct. Although in recent years there have been first reports published proving the presence of some ILs in the environment and even in human blood, at this point the scale of this possible problem is not yet fully understood. However, there is no doubt that as the number of ILs applications increases, analytical capabilities for rapid detection of possible environmental contamination should be also considered. Therefore, in this review paper, recent evidences for the ILs environmental contamination as well as analytical achievements related to the extraction of ILs from various environmental matrices have been summarized and important gaps and future perspectives have been pointed out. Based on the presented data it might be concluded that there is the urgent need for further development towards risk assessment of these potential environmental contaminants.

Quaternary ammonium disinfectants cause subfertility in mice by targeting both male and female reproductive processes

Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) are common ingredients in household bathroom and kitchen cleaning sprays. ADBAC+DDAC cause reproductive toxicity in mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate gender-specific reproductive effects from ADBAC+DDAC. Female reproduction was assessed through ovulation, oocyte implantation, and estrus cycling. Male reproductive function was assessed by sperm concentration, motility, and viability. Numbers of corpora lutea were not different after 2 weeks, but decreased after 8 weeks of ADBAC+DDAC exposure. Dams exposed for 5 weeks to ADBAC+DDAC spent significantly less time in estrus. ADBAC+DDAC exposed males exhibited declines in both sperm concentration and motility, but not sperm viability. Subfertility in mice from ADBAC+DDAC exposure is, therefore, mediated through reproductive disturbances in both females and males. While the effect of ADBAC+DDAC exposure on human health is unclear, widespread exposure necessitates further consideration of their potential reproductive toxicity.

Analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds in urban stormwater samples

A method for benzalkonium analysis has been developed to measure benzalkonium concentration in dissolved and particulate fractions from urban runoff samples. The analysis was performed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The dissolved matrix was extracted by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE), with cationic exchange and the particles by microwave extraction with acidified methanol. Recovery percentages were closed to 100% for benzalkonium C12 and C14. The protocol was applied to roof runoff samples collected after a roof demossing treatment, and to separative stormwater samples from a 200 ha catchment. The results illustrate an important contamination of the roof runoff, with a maximum concentration close to 27 mg/L during the first rain. The benzalkonium concentration (sum of C12 and C14) stayed high (up to 1 mg/L) even 5 months after the treatment. Benzalkonium concentration measured in stormwaters was low (0.2 μg/L) but with contaminated suspended solids (up to 80 μg/g).

New materials in sorptive extraction techniques for polar compounds

This paper provides an overview of the new developments in material and format technology that improve the extraction of polar compounds in several extraction techniques. They mainly include solid-phase extraction, but there are also other sorptive extraction techniques, such as stir bar sorptive extraction and solid-phase microextraction that use either fibers or in-tube devices. We focus on new synthesised materials that are both commercially available and "in-house". Most novel materials that enhance the extraction of polar compounds are hydrophilic and have large specific surface area; however, we also cover other leading technologies, such as sol-gel or monolith. We describe the morphological and chemical properties of these new sorbents so that we can better understand them and relate them to their capability of retaining polar compounds. We discuss the extraction efficiency for polar compounds when these polymers are used as sorptive material and compare them to other materials. We also mention some representative examples of applications.