A Novel Approach for Monitoring Chemical Markers of Human Activity in Wastewater Using LC-MS/MS with On-line SPE
Oral Presentation
Prepared by A. Pierri1, S. Orlowicz2, A. Misa2
1 - Weck Laboratories, Inc., 14859 Clark Avenue, City of Industry, CA, 91745, United States
2 - Phenomenex, 411 Madrid Drive, Torrance, CA, 90501, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 626-336-2139
ABSTRACT
Since the discovery of widespread occurrence of low levels of hormones, sterols, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and their metabolites in wastewaters in the 1990s as markers of human activity, it has been anticipated that there might be a requirement someday to routinely monitor these exotic compounds in wastewater. With each successive UCMR study, it becomes more likely that some degree of regulated, routine monitoring for at least some of these compounds may be required. Owing to the diverse chemistry of these indicator compounds, such monitoring will undoubtedly require liquid chromatography coupled with some form of advanced mass spectrometry. However, current analytical methods are based upon MS/MS techniques that are more at home in a research setting than in a routine wastewater monitoring laboratory. Therefore, if routine monitoring for PPCPs is ever to become a practical reality, there needs to be a shift in the paradigm regarding how these powerful analytical techniques are deployed.
In this presentation we will describe joint development work that brings the application of LC-MS/MS closer to a routine wastewater monitoring setting by developing a robust, easy to deploy and solution. Key to this application is the development of an integrated, on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) process to concentrate and isolate the target compounds for subsequent LC-MS/MS analysis. We will present data that demonstrate the increased robustness and productivity of this on-line approach compared to conventional LLE or batch SPE tube and disk approaches, by leveraging the extreme sensitivity of modern mass spectrometers and new developments in solid-phase extraction media designed for online-SPE.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by A. Pierri1, S. Orlowicz2, A. Misa2
1 - Weck Laboratories, Inc., 14859 Clark Avenue, City of Industry, CA, 91745, United States
2 - Phenomenex, 411 Madrid Drive, Torrance, CA, 90501, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 626-336-2139
ABSTRACT
Since the discovery of widespread occurrence of low levels of hormones, sterols, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and their metabolites in wastewaters in the 1990s as markers of human activity, it has been anticipated that there might be a requirement someday to routinely monitor these exotic compounds in wastewater. With each successive UCMR study, it becomes more likely that some degree of regulated, routine monitoring for at least some of these compounds may be required. Owing to the diverse chemistry of these indicator compounds, such monitoring will undoubtedly require liquid chromatography coupled with some form of advanced mass spectrometry. However, current analytical methods are based upon MS/MS techniques that are more at home in a research setting than in a routine wastewater monitoring laboratory. Therefore, if routine monitoring for PPCPs is ever to become a practical reality, there needs to be a shift in the paradigm regarding how these powerful analytical techniques are deployed.
In this presentation we will describe joint development work that brings the application of LC-MS/MS closer to a routine wastewater monitoring setting by developing a robust, easy to deploy and solution. Key to this application is the development of an integrated, on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) process to concentrate and isolate the target compounds for subsequent LC-MS/MS analysis. We will present data that demonstrate the increased robustness and productivity of this on-line approach compared to conventional LLE or batch SPE tube and disk approaches, by leveraging the extreme sensitivity of modern mass spectrometers and new developments in solid-phase extraction media designed for online-SPE.
