Abstract
A method based on gas chromatography coupled with electron ionization mass spectrometry employing N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with trimethylchlorosilane as derivatization agent was developed to quantify short-chain carboxylic acids (C1-C6) in hospital wastewater treated by wet air oxidation, an advanced oxidation process. Extraction from water and derivatization of volatile and semi-volatile short chain carboxylic acids were optimized and validated and limits of quantification (LOQ = 0.049 mg L−1–4.15 mg L−1), repeatability (RSD = 1.7–12.8%), recovery (31–119%) and trueness (relative bias = −19.0–3.4%) were acceptable. The validated method was successfully applied to monitor the concentration of organic acids formed after wet air oxidation of water samples. Results showed that the method described herein allowed to identify 38% and up to 46% of the final chemical oxygen demand's composition after wet air oxidation of acetaminophen spiked in deionised water and hospital wastewater samples, respectively. The developed method also allowed to perform qualitative non-targeted analysis in hospital wastewater samples after treatment. Results demonstrated that glycerol, methenamine, and benzoic acid were also present in the samples and their presence was confirmed with reference standards.
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