Multi-residue ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for comprehensive multi-class anthropogenic compounds of emerging concern analysis in a catchment-based exposure-driven study

Kathryn Proctor,Tom Arnot,Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern,Bruce Petrie,Ruth Barden

doi:10.1007/s00216-019-02091-8

Kathryn Proctor, Tom Arnot + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02091-8

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Journal: Analusis	Publication Date: Sep 7, 2019
Citations: 31	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Bath, Robert Gordon University

Abstract

This paper presents a new multi-residue method for the quantification of more than 142 anthropogenic compounds of emerging concern (CECs) in various environmental matrices. These CECs are from a wide range of major classes including pharmaceuticals, household, industrial and agricultural. This method utilises ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for analysis of five matrices (three liquid and two solid) from wastewater treatment processes and the surrounding environment. Relative recoveries were predominantly between 80 and 120%; however, due to the complexity of the matrices used in this work, not all compounds were recovered in all matrices, from 138/142 analytes in surface water to 96/142 analytes in digested solids. Method quantification limits (MQLs) ranged from 0.004 ng L−1 (bisoprolol in surface water) to 3118 ng L−1 (creatinine in wastewater treatment work (WwTW) influent). The overall method accuracy was 107.0%, and precision was 13.4%. To test its performance, the method was applied to the range of environmental matrices at WwTWs in South West England. Overall, this method was found to be suitable for application in catchment-based exposure-driven studies, as, of the total number of analytes quantifiable in each matrix, 61% on average was found to be above their corresponding MQL. The results confirm the need for analysing both the liquid and solid compartments within a WwTW to prevent under-reporting of concentrations.

Highlights

IntroductionThe use of anthropogenic, household, industrial or agricultural chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticisers, UV filters, industrial chemicals and microplastics is ubiquitous, and they have been recognised as a source of environmental contamination
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.The use of anthropogenic, household, industrial or agricultural chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticisers, UV filters, industrial chemicals and microplastics is ubiquitous, and they have been recognised as a source of environmental contamination
Application of the method to environmental matrices has shown that the method is appropriate for assessing treatment efficiency, partitioning to solids, and environmental concentrations

Summary

Introduction

The use of anthropogenic, household, industrial or agricultural chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticisers, UV filters, industrial chemicals and microplastics is ubiquitous, and they have been recognised as a source of environmental contamination These compounds have been quantified at levels ranging from ng L−1 to μg L−1, and their impact on the environment is not well known. CECs are primarily introduced to the environment via point sources such as wastewater treatment works (WwTWs), industrial discharge points and landfill leachates [8,9,10,11] Diffuse sources, such as direct application to land in agriculture, have been identified as a source of select sub-classes of CECs, such as pesticides and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Bisphenol A (BPA) for instance, has been found at high levels within this matrix [13, 14]

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