Steffi Schrader

Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of biologically active substances in water samples

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method for determining trace amounts of polar, biologically active substances in water systems was developed and compared with solid-phase extraction followed by derivatization and GC-MS. SPME was examined with respect to the simultaneous determination of pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, phenazone, carbamazepine, and nonylphenols known to be xenoestrogens. The extraction performance of different SPME fibre coatings was studied. Coatings like polyacrylate and Carbowax-divinylbenzene proved to be the best suited. The optimum extraction time was found to be 30 min and the detection limits were between 0.2 and 50 microg/l. Low concentrations of accompanying organic matter did not impair these limits. One of the main pharmaceutical contaminants found in ground and river water around Leipzig (Germany) was ibuprofen, with a concentration in the ng/l range. The enantioselective metabolism of ibuprofen was investigated.

Synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer and its application for microextraction by packed sorbent for the determination of fluoroquinolone related compounds in water.

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been synthesized by precipitation polymerization using ciprofloxacin (CIP) as template for the analysis of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs). This MIP material was packed as sorbent in a device for microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the analysis of selected FQs drugs including CIP, norfloxacin (NOR) and ofloxacin (OFLO) in municipal wastewater samples. In comparison to the new MIP-MEPS procedure, the target compounds were also determined by solid-phase extraction (MISPE) using the new molecular imprinted polymer material to validate the new MIP-MEPS method. The ability of the MIP for molecular recognition of CIP, NOR and OFLO was proved in presence of structurally different environmental relevant substances such as quinolones (Qs), flumequine (FLU), di(methyl)phthalate (DMP), technical 4-nonylphenol (NP), caffeine, Galaxolide(®), Tonalid(®), di(butyl)phthalate (DBP), Triclosan, bisphenol-A (BPA), carbamazepine, di(ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), estradiol and octocrylene. The analysis of wastewater samples revealed the high selectivity of the synthesized polymer which was able to recognize and retain the target analytes by both extraction methods, the offline SPE with MIP material and the semi-automated MEPS packed with MIP material.

At-line microextraction by packed sorbent-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for the determination of UV filter and polycyclic musk compounds in water samples

An at-line analysis protocol is presented that allows the determination of four UV filters, two polycyclic musk compounds and caffeine in water at concentration level of ng L(-1). The fully automated method includes analytes enrichment by Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) coupled directly to large volume injection-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two common SPE phases, C8 and C18, were examined for their suitability to extract the target substances by MEPS. The analytes were extracted from small sample volumes of 800 microL with recoveries ranging from 46 to 114% for the C8-sorbent and 65-109% for the C18-sorbent. Limits of detection between 34 and 96 ng L(-1) enable the determination of the analytes at common environmental concentration levels. Both sorbents showed linear calibration curves for most of the analytes up to a concentration level of 20 ng mL(-1). Carryover was minimized by washing the sorbents 10 times with 100 microL methanol. After this thorough cleaning, the MEPS are re-used and up to 70 analyses can be performed with the same sorbent. The fully automated microextraction GC-MS protocol was evaluated for the influence of matrix substances typical for wastewater. Dilution of samples prior to MEPS is recommended when the polar caffeine is present at high concentration. Real water samples were analyzed by the MEPS-GC-MS method and compared to standard SPE.

Non-porous membrane-assisted liquid–liquid extraction of UV filter compounds from water samples

A method for the determination of nine UV filter compounds [benzophenone-3 (BP-3), isoamyl methoxycinnamate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octocrylene (OC), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl dimethyl p-aminobenzoate (OD-PABA), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), ethylhexyl salicylate and homosalate] in water samples was developed and evaluated. The procedure includes non-porous membrane-assisted liquid-liquid extraction (MALLE) and LC-atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI)-MS/MS. Membrane bags made of different polymeric materials were examined to enable a fast and simple extraction of the target analytes. Among the polymeric materials tested, low- and high-density polyethylene membranes proved to be well suited to adsorb the analytes from water samples. Finally, 2 cm length tailor-made membrane bags were prepared from low-density polyethylene in order to accommodate 100 microL of propanol. The fully optimised protocol provides recoveries from 76% to 101% and limits of detection (LOD) between 0.4 ng L(-1) (OD-PABA) and 16 ng L(-1) (EHMC). The interday repeatability of the whole protocol was below 18%. The effective separation of matrix molecules was proved by only marginal matrix influence during the APPI-MS analysis since no ion suppression effects were observed. During the extraction step, the influence of the matrix was only significant when non-treated wastewater was analysed. The analysis of lake water indicated the presence of seven UV filter compounds included in this study at concentrations between 40 ng L(-1) (BP-3) and 4381 ng L(-1) (OC). In non-treated wastewater several UV filters were also detected at concentration levels as high as 5322 ng L(-1) (OC).

Determination of organic priority pollutants and emerging compounds in wastewater and snow samples using multiresidue protocols on the basis of microextraction by packed sorbents coupled to large volume injection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

This paper describes the development and validation of a new procedure for the simultaneous determination of 41 multi-class priority and emerging organic pollutants in water samples using microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) followed by large volume injection-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LVI-GC-MS). Apart from method parameter optimization the influence of humic acids as matrix components on the extraction efficiency of MEPS procedure was also evaluated. The list of target compounds includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalate esters (PEs), nonylphenols (NPs), bisphenol A (BPA) and selected steroid hormones. The performance of the new at-line microextraction-LVI-GC-MS protocol was compared to standard solid-phase extraction (SPE) and LVI-GC-MS analysis. LODs for 100 mL samples (SPE) ranged from 0.2 to 736 ng L(-1) were obtained. LODs for 800 microL of sample (MEPS) were between 0.2 and 266 ng L(-1). In the case of MEPS methodology even a sample volume of only 800 microL allowed to detect the target compounds. These results demonstrate the high sensitivity of both procedures which permitted to obtain good recoveries (>75%) for all cases. The precision of the methods, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 21% for all compounds and both methodologies. Finally, the developed methods were applied to the determination of target analytes in various samples, including snow and wastewater.

Selective determination of estrogenic compounds in water by microextraction by packed sorbents and a molecularly imprinted polymer coupled with large volume injection-in-port-derivatization gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A fully automated protocol consisting of microextraction by packed sorbents (MEPS) coupled with large volume injection-in-port-derivatization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LVI-derivatization-GC-MS) was developed to determine endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as alkylphenols, bisphenol A, and natural and synthetic hormons in river and waste water samples. During method optimization, the extraction parameters as ion strength of the water sample, the MEPS extraction regime, the volume of organic solvent used for the elution/injection step, the type of elution solvents and the selectivity of the sorbents were studied. For optimum in-port-derivatization, 10 μL of the derivatization reagent N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)triufloroacetamide with 1% of trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA+1% TMCS) was used. 17β-Estradiol-molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and silica gel (modified with C-18) sorbents were examined for the enrichment of the target analytes from water samples and the obtained results revealed the high selectivity of the MIP material for extraction of substances with estrogen-like structures. Recovery values for most of the analytes ranged from 75 to 109% for the C18 sorbent and from 81 to 103% for the MIP material except for equilin (on C18 with only 57-66% recovery). Precision (n=4) of the entire analysis protocol ranged between 4% and 22% with both sorbents. Limits of detection (LODs) were at the low ngL(-1) level (0.02-87, C18 and 1.3-22, MIP) for the target analytes.

Semi-automated hollow-fibre membrane extraction, a novel enrichment technique for the determination of biologically active compounds in water samples

An automated hollow fibre membrane extraction technique was developed for the GC-MS determination of pharmaceutical and endocrine disrupting compounds in water samples. Enrichment was carried out inside a porous polypropylene hollow fibre membrane, which separated the aqueous and organic phases and regulated the transfer of analytes. n-Octanol placed inside the hollow fibre was used as the acceptor solution. A water-solvent ratio of about 300:1 was used to concentrate the analytes. After 1 hours extraction of the water sample under magnetic stirring, 1 microl of the n-octanol phase was automatically injected from the hollow fibre into the GC-MS. Development work included examining the influence of different sample matrices, volumes, extraction times and extraction solvents. The detection limits, linearity and standard deviations of the method were determined using drugs such as ibuprofen, phenazone and carbamazepine as well as the endocrine disrupting compounds. technical nonylphenols, bisphenol A, 17alpha-ethinylestradiol and tonalide by way of example.

Fully automated determination of parabens, triclosan and methyl triclosan in wastewater by microextraction by packed sorbents and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A fully automated method for the determination of triclosan (TCS), its derivative methyl triclosan (MeTCS) and six parabens (esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) including branched and linear isomers of propyl (i-PrP and n-PrP) and butyl paraben (i-BuP and n-BuP) in sewage water samples is presented. The procedure includes analytes enrichment by microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) coupled at-line to large volume injection-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LVI-GC-MS). Under optimised conditions, compounds were extracted from 2 mL samples, adjusted at pH 3, using a C18 MEPS-sorbent. Adsorbed analytes were eluted directly into the Programmable Temperature Vaporizer (PTV) injector of the chromatograph with 2×25 μL of ethyl acetate. They were quantified using standard solutions in ultrapure water submitted to the same sample enrichment process as real sewage water samples. After signal normalisation using isotopic labelled species as internal surrogates, no differences were noticed among the extraction efficiency for sewage and ultrapure water; moreover, the proposed method reported lineal calibration curves from 0.1 to 10 ng mL(-1), relative standard deviations (%RSD) between 2 and 7.1% and limits of detection (LODs) varying from 0.001 to 0.015 ng mL(-1) in ultrapure water and from 0.02 to 0.59 ng mL(-1) in the most complex sample (raw wastewater).

Polychlorinated naphthalenes in sediments from the industrial region of Bitterfeld

Bitterfeld (Germany) was a major site of chemical production in the former German Democratic Republic with chloralkali electrolysis as the basic process. Effluents were dumped via the creek Spittelwasser into the rivers Mulde and Elbe. Despite the fact that the chloralkali industry is known as a possible source of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), to date no data about PCN pollution in the region of Bitterfeld and downstream regions are available. Therefore, sediments of the creek Spittelwasser were isomer-specifically analysed for penta-, hexa- and heptachlorinated naphthalenes using GC/MS. Concentrations of 880, 543 and 1120 ng/g dry weight were found, respectively. The isomer pattern suggests chloralkali industry as the major source of PCN contamination. Because of their toxicological relevance we suggest to include PCNs into monitoring and risk assessment programs of the rivers Mulde and Elbe downstream of Bitterfeld.

Pressurised membrane-assisted liquid extraction of UV filters from sludge.

A method for the determination of 11 UV-filter compounds in sludge has been developed and evaluated. The procedure includes the use of non-porous polymeric membranes in combination with pressurised liquid extraction (PLE). Firstly, the solid sample, wetted with the extraction solvent, was enclosed into tailor-made bags prepared with low density polyethylene. Secondly, these packages were submitted to a conventional PLE (70 degrees C, 4 cycles of 5 min static time). Finally, the analytes were determined by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionisation-tandem mass spectrometry. The main advantage of this procedure is the reduction of time, solvent and labour effort ought to the combination of extraction and clean-up in a single step. Although the extraction is not quantitative (thus, standard addition is recommended for quantification) selectivity is clearly gained using the membrane as a consequence of the differences of permeation and transport through the membrane between the analytes and other sample matrix components. The optimised protocol provides limits of detection ranging from 0.3 ng g(-1) (ethylhexyl dimethyl p-aminobenzoate (OD-PABA)) to 25 ng g(-1) (ethylhexyl triazone (EHT)) with only 0.5 g of sludge sample. All the studied UV filters were found in the samples at concentration levels between 1.4 and 2479 ng g(-1), emphasising the high adsorption potential of this kind of environmental pollutants onto solid samples such as sludge. Also, this method has permitted the determination of seven of the studied UV filters in sludge samples for the first time.