Determination of Ultraviolet Filters in Domestic Wastewater by LC–MS Coupled with Polydopamine-Based Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction and Isotope-Coded Derivatization

Abstract

A selective and accurate liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and isotope-coded derivatization was developed and validated. The magnetic polydopamine (Fe3O4@PDA) was prepared as sorbent for enrichment of ten ultraviolet (UV) filters from domestic wastewater samples. The obtained extract and standards were labeled by a pair of isotope-coded derivatization reagents d0-/d3-10-methylacridone-2-sulfonyl chloride (d0-/d3-MASC), respectively. The quantification of UV filters was achieved by calculation of the peak area ratios of d0-MASC/d3-MASC-labeled derivatives. The isotope-coded derivatization strategy was confirmed to be effective in reducing matrix effect and improving sensitivity. Excellent linearity is established with the correlation coefficients > 0.9922. The limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.056–0.128 µg L−1, and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) were in the range of 0.193–0.315 µg L−1. The developed method has been successfully applied to the quantification of UV filters in domestic wastewater samples with recoveries ranging from 95.6 to 103.6%.