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Analytical improvements of hybrid LC-MS/MS techniques for the efficient evaluation of emerging contaminants in river waters: a case study of the Henares River (Madrid, Spain)

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Abstract

Purpose

Instrumental capabilities and software tools of modern hybrid mass spectrometry (MS) instruments such as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF), and quadrupole linear ion trap (QLIT) were experimentally investigated for the study of emerging contaminants in Henares River water samples.

Methods

Automated screening and confirmatory capabilities of QTOF working in full-scan MS and tandem MS (MS/MS) were explored when dealing with real samples. Investigations on the effect of sensitivity and resolution power influence on mass accuracy were studied for the correct assignment of the amoxicillin transformation product 5(R) amoxicillin-diketopiperazine-2′,5′ as an example of a nontarget compound. On the other hand, a comparison of quantitative and qualitative strategies based on direct injection analysis and off-line solid-phase extraction sample treatment were assayed using two different QLIT instruments for a selected group of emerging contaminants when operating in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) and information-dependent acquisition (IDA) modes.

Results and discussion

Software-aided screening usually needs a further confirmatory step. Resolving power and MS/MS feature of QTOF showed to confirm/reject most findings in river water, although sensitivity-related limitations are usually found. Superior sensitivity of modern QLIT-MS/MS offered the possibility of direct injection analysis for proper quantitative study of a variety of contaminants, while it simultaneously reduced the matrix effect and increased the reliability of the results. Confirmation of ethylamphetamine, which lacks on a second SRM transition, was accomplished by using the IDA feature.

Conclusion

Hybrid MS instruments equipped with high resolution and high sensitivity contributes to enlarge the scope of targeted analytes in river waters. However, in the tested instruments, there is a margin of improvement principally in required sensitivity and data treatment software tools devoted to reliable confirmation and improved automated data processing.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Programme CONSOLIDER-TRAGUA 2010, CE-CSD2006-00044). A.P.P. also acknowledges the Facultad de Química (UdelaR, Uruguay), Programa de Desarrollo de Ciencias Básicas (PEDECIBA Química, Montevideo, Uruguay), and Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII, Uruguay, POSNAC-2010-2637) for the economic assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pesticide Residue Research Group, Department of Hydrogeology and Analytical Chemistry, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almeria, Spain

    Andrés Pérez-Parada, María del Mar Gómez-Ramos, María Jesús Martínez Bueno, Samanta Uclés, Ana Uclés & Amadeo R. Fernández-Alba

  2. Organic Trace Analysis Group, Organic Chemistry Department, Universidad de la República, 1180 General Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Andrés Pérez-Parada

  3. Fundación IMDEA-Agua, Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Alcalá, C/Punto Net 4, 2ª planta, Edificio ZYE, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    María Jesús Martínez Bueno & Amadeo R. Fernández-Alba

Authors
  1. Andrés Pérez-Parada
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  2. María del Mar Gómez-Ramos
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  3. María Jesús Martínez Bueno
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  4. Samanta Uclés
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  5. Ana Uclés
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  6. Amadeo R. Fernández-Alba
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amadeo R. Fernández-Alba.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Fig. S1

Confirmation of metoprolol false positive. a Automatically identified metoprolol fragment 1 (ion formula C15H14NO2; m/z 250.1802). MS spectra, fragmentor voltage 190 V. b MS/MS confirmatory step of the false positive. c Metoprolol ([M+H]+ ion formula C15H26NO3; theoretical m/z 268.1907) MS/MS spectra. For b and c, fragmentor voltage 90 V and CE 20 eV. (GIF 36 kb)

High resolution image (EPS 2209 kb)

Fig. S2

Effect of the software input—retention time tolerance—on the presentation of database hits in a river water sample. (GIF 48 kb)

High resolution image (EPS 2743 kb)

Fig. S3

Total ion chromatogram (TIC) obtained by two different QLIT-MS instruments of a river water sample using strategy A: SPE, 400-fold enrichment or B: direct injection analysis. (GIF 35 kb)

High resolution image (EPS 4081 kb)

Fig. S4

Comparison of direct injection (black line) and SPE (blue line) for the analysis of trigonelline and nicotinic acid by LC-QLIT-MS/MS. (GIF 47 kb)

High resolution image (EPS 2679 kb)

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Pérez-Parada, A., Gómez-Ramos, M., Martínez Bueno, M.J. et al. Analytical improvements of hybrid LC-MS/MS techniques for the efficient evaluation of emerging contaminants in river waters: a case study of the Henares River (Madrid, Spain). Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 467–481 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0585-2

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