GC-QToF Analysis of Glucocorticoid Transformation Products in Water
Oral Presentation
Prepared by S. Young1, S. Snyder2
1 - University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, BIO5 Institute, Office: 0400A22, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
2 - University of Arizona, 1500 W University Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 443-677-7596
ABSTRACT
Steroids are a broad class of chemical compounds known to have significant metabolic effects on humans and other organisms. Their use in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications, is, however, likely to result in contamination of surface water. Subsequent wastewater processing is intended to safely degrade steroids and other xenobiotics; yet presently employed water refinement methodology may be insufficient to wholly remove such compounds or produce derivatives and byproducts that are sometimes more hazardous than its precursor. With a regulatory framework rapidly moving towards toxicological endpoints and synergistic effects, it is essential to identify unknown byproducts. Conventional analytical measurement platforms such as gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LC-MS) provide separation and structure elucidation of target compounds at trace levels; however they are limited by reduced instrument resolution or challenges in the accurate identification of unknown compounds. Gas chromatography high-resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QToF) offers a highly sensitive tool with fast acquisition and accurate mass measurements, for the identification of targeted disinfection byproducts of interest and unknown emerging contaminants. In this study, several wastewater samples in various stages of the treatment process, a surface water sample and samples fortified with glucocorticoid steroid compounds and treated with chloramine disinfectant were analyzed by GC-QToF for transformation products. The presentation will summarize the technical approach used in the study and provide semi-quantitative results to characterize the disinfection method for the attenuation of glucocorticoid character in water. Additionally, the analytical method will be compared to existing methods to demonstrate its viability for accurate mass determination of untargeted compounds.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by S. Young1, S. Snyder2
1 - University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, BIO5 Institute, Office: 0400A22, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
2 - University of Arizona, 1500 W University Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 443-677-7596
ABSTRACT
Steroids are a broad class of chemical compounds known to have significant metabolic effects on humans and other organisms. Their use in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial applications, is, however, likely to result in contamination of surface water. Subsequent wastewater processing is intended to safely degrade steroids and other xenobiotics; yet presently employed water refinement methodology may be insufficient to wholly remove such compounds or produce derivatives and byproducts that are sometimes more hazardous than its precursor. With a regulatory framework rapidly moving towards toxicological endpoints and synergistic effects, it is essential to identify unknown byproducts. Conventional analytical measurement platforms such as gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LC-MS) provide separation and structure elucidation of target compounds at trace levels; however they are limited by reduced instrument resolution or challenges in the accurate identification of unknown compounds. Gas chromatography high-resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QToF) offers a highly sensitive tool with fast acquisition and accurate mass measurements, for the identification of targeted disinfection byproducts of interest and unknown emerging contaminants. In this study, several wastewater samples in various stages of the treatment process, a surface water sample and samples fortified with glucocorticoid steroid compounds and treated with chloramine disinfectant were analyzed by GC-QToF for transformation products. The presentation will summarize the technical approach used in the study and provide semi-quantitative results to characterize the disinfection method for the attenuation of glucocorticoid character in water. Additionally, the analytical method will be compared to existing methods to demonstrate its viability for accurate mass determination of untargeted compounds.
