Rapid and Accurate Determination of Dichlorvos in Water by Liquid Chromatography‐Electrospray Ionization‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Biotransformation and adsorption of pharmaceutical and personal care products by activated sludge after correcting matrix effects

This study reported significant suppressive matrix effects in analyses of six pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in activated sludge, sterilized activated sludge and untreated sewage by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Quantitative matrix evaluation on selected PPCPs supplemented the limited quantification data of matrix effects on mass spectrometric determination of PPCPs in complex environment samples. The observed matrix effects were chemical-specific and matrix-dependent, with the most pronounced average effect (-55%) was found on sulfadiazine in sterilized activated sludge. After correcting the matrix effects by post-spiking known amount of PPCPs, the removal mechanisms and biotransformation kinetics of selected PPCPs in activated sludge system were revealed by batch experiment. Experimental data elucidated that the removal of target PPCPs in the activated sludge process was mainly by biotransformation while contributions of adsorption, hydrolysis and volatilization could be neglected. High biotransformation efficiency (52%) was observed on diclofenac while other three compounds (sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole and roxithromycin) were partially biotransformed by ~40%. The other two compounds, trimethoprim and carbamazepine, showed recalcitrant to biotransformation of the activated sludge.

Matrix effects on mass spectrometric determinations of four pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water, sediments, and biota

Simple analytical methods were developed for the extraction and determination of four pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water, sediments, and biota. PPCPs were determined using tandem LC–MS in electrospray ionization mode, and interactions with matrix co-eluents were investigated. Extractions of water samples were performed using solid-phase extraction (SPE), sediments were extracted by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and biota was extracted by liquid extraction. The selected analytical methods yielded recoveries ≥ 61% in all matrixes. Matrix interactions were investigated throughout the linear range of quantification of each compound, revealing that dissolved salts had relatively minor effects on ionization (between 14% suppression to 12% enhancement), but that sediment and biota extracts caused significant matrix effects (ranging from 56% suppression to 25% enhancement). The direction and magnitude of matrix interactions reflected the physico-chemical properties of each analyte, particularly their pKa. Among the compounds analyzed in electrospray positive mode, carbamazepine was insensitive to matrix interactions, because it is a strong proton acceptor (pKa= 14.0). In contrast, atorvastatin (pKa= 4.5), a weaker proton acceptor, was particularly sensitive to matrix effects. For those compounds analyzed in negative-ion mode, sample alkalinity was found to be important. With a pKaof 10.4, 17α-ethinylestradiol generally exhibited matrix enhancement with increased sample alkalinity. However, the presence of acidic co-eluents contributed to matrix suppression. Lastly, TCS was particularly sensitive to matrix suppression, as its circumneutral pKa(7.9) caused even slight changes in sample pH to considerably impact ionization. We conclude that while different matrixes have clear impacts on ionization of these PPCPs, matrix effects can be quantified and overcome.