Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry using time-of-flight (LC/Q-TOF-MS) has proven to be an excellent technique for the analysis of emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and PPCPs) in the environment. The high degree of confirmation by accurate mass measurements for target pharmaceuticals has demonstrated the applicability of the method in routine analysis of several types of water samples. Furthermore, the use of high resolution TOF-MS allows for non-target identification, because the full-spectrum is recorded at all times, which is not possible with LC-MS-MS and other MRM techniques. Likewise, using tandem MS-MS with accurate mass allows to elucidate fragmentation pathways and ultimately to reveal chemical composition of non-target compounds. Several strategies, using accurate mass tools by LC/Q-TOF-MS, for the analysis of pharmaceuticals in the environment and their degradation products or metabolites are reported here. This technique was successful for finding non-targets and unknown chemicals that have not been included in previous routine target methods (lamotrigine, dextromethorphan, gabapentin and some of their metabolites). This talk will present an overview of the main achievements using LC/Q-TOF-MS for the identification of new emerging contaminants in water samples, as well as a surveillance of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and their degradation products in groundwater, surface water and wastewaters in the USA.

High resolution mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-MS) for the detection of pharmaceuticals in water

245th National Meeting (2013)

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