Abstract
Robust instrumental analytical chemistry and the subsequent development of improved analytical methodologies and extraction procedures have enabled the detection at environmental levels of new emerging contaminants, for example pharmaceuticals. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole-linear ion trap (LC–QqLIT MS) for quantitative determination of nine sulfonamides (SAs) and one acetylated metabolite in surface water from the Llobregat River and one of its main tributaries, the Anoia River, in Catalonia (Spain). A total of 21 samples were taken in three sampling campaigns. Recoveries ranging from 26% to 123% were calculated for the SAs studied, and method limits of detection (MLODs) achieved were in the range 0.05–0.2 ng L−1. Through the different campaigns, concentrations ranged from 0.74 ng L−1 (sulfamethizole) to 2,482 ng L−1 (sulfamethazine) in the Llobregat River, and from 0.27 ng L−1 (sulfamethizole) to 168 ng L−1 (sulfamethoxazole) in the Anoia River. Sulfamethoxazole and sulfapyridine were the two SAs most frequently detected (80% and 71% respectively). N 4-acetylsulfamethazine was detected in both rivers, but with different frequencies (4% of the samples from the Anoia River and 43% of those from the Llobregat River). Information-dependent acquisition (IDA) experiments were also developed in order to obtain enhanced product-ion spectra in surface water samples.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
EU (2003) Regulation 1831/2003/EC on additives for use in animal nutrition
Chang H, Hu JY, Wang LZ, Shao B (2008) Chin Sci Bull 53:514–520
Díaz-Cruz MS, García-Galán MJ, Barceló D (2008) J Chromatogr A 1193:50–59
García-Galán MJ, Díaz-Cruz MS, Barceló D (2009) Talanta (in press)
Gobel A, McArdell CS, Joss A, Siegrist H, Giger W (2007) Sci Total Environ 372:361–371
García-Galán MJ, Garrido T, Fraile J, Ginebreda A, Díaz-Cruz MS, Barceló D (2009) J Hydrol (in press)
Carballa M, Omil F, Lema JM, Llompart M, García-Jares C, Rodríguez I, Gómez M, Ternes T (2004) Water Res 38:2918–2926
Batt AL, Kim S, Aga DS (2007) Chemosphere 68:428–435
EU (1993) Council of the European Communities, Commission Decision 93/256/EC
López de Alda MJ, Díaz-Cruz MS, Petrovic M, Barceló D (2003) J Chromatogr A 1000:503–526
Diaz-Cruz MS, Barcelo D (2005) Trends Anal Chem 24:645–657
Diaz-Cruz MS, Barcelo D (2006) Anal Bioanal Chem 386:973–985
Barcelo D, Petrovic M (2007) Trends Anal Chem 26:1019–1019
Ferrer I, Garcia-Reyes JF, Fernandez-Alba A (2005) Trends Anal Chem 24:671–682
Pico Y, Blasco C, Font G (2004) Mass Spectrom Rev 23:45–85
Lehotay SJ et al (2005) J AOAC Int 88:595–614
Ortelli D, Edder P, Corvi C (2004) Anal Chim Acta 520:33–45
Stafford G (2002) J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 13:589–596
Hager JW (2002) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 16:512–526
Hager JW, Le Blanc JCY (2003) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 17:1056–1064
King R, Fernandez-Metzler C (2006) Curr Drug Metab 7:541–545
Perez S, Barcelo D (2008) Anal Chem 80:8135–8145
Gros M, Petrovic ÌM, Barcelo D (2006) Talanta 70:678–690
Xia YQ, Miller JD, Bakhtiar R, Franklin RB, Liu DQ (2003) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 17:1137–1145
EU (2002) Commission Decision 2002/657/EC of 12 August 2002. Off J Eur Communities B, Belgium, L221, 8
García-Galán MJ, Díaz-Cruz MS, Barceló D (2009) Environ Int (submitted for publication)
Garcia-Galan MJ, Diaz-Cruz MS, Barcelo D (2008) Trends Anal Chem 27:1008–1022
Muñoz IL-DJ, Ricart M, Villagrasa M, Brix R, Geiszinger A, Ginebreda A, Guasch H, López de Alda M, Romaní AM, Sabater S, Barceló D (2009) Environ Toxicol Chem 28:2706–2714
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the EU through Project Nomiracle (Contract 003956-2) and the integrated Project Modelkey (Contract 511237-GOCE), and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the project Cemagua (CGL2007-64551/HID). Waters is acknowledged for the gifts of SPE cartridges and HPLC columns. María Jesús García acknowledges AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain) for economic support through an FI pre-doctoral grant. M. Silvía Díaz acknowledges her Ramón y Cajal contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. We would like to thank Asunción Navarro for her assistance and help through the sampling campaigns.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
García-Galán, M.J., Villagrasa, M., Díaz-Cruz, M.S. et al. LC-QqLIT MS analysis of nine sulfonamides and one of their acetylated metabolites in the Llobregat River basin. Quantitative determination and qualitative evaluation by IDA experiments. Anal Bioanal Chem 397, 1325–1334 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3630-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3630-y