Rapid Analysis of Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products, and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds Using Automated Solid Phase Extraction and LC/MS/MS

Oral Presentation

Prepared by L. Kramer
Fluid Management Systems, 580 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA, 02472, United States


Contact Information: lkramer@fms-inc.com; 617-393-2396


ABSTRACT

Environmental analysis of pharmaceuticals and personal care products has increased in the last decade due to consumer concerns about the toxic effects. Evident in wildlife, even trace amounts may be hazardous with long term exposure. The effect on humans, particularly on the endocrine system is the subject of multiple studies. Many of the products found in water are larger molecule, do not volatilize or degrade easily under normal conditions and therefore accumulate due their persistence. Along with this recognition comes the need for more efficient analysis of hundreds of compounds. Using automated sample preparation and the resolving power of UPLC with MS/MS detection, sample throughput can be easily reduced from days to a few hours for multiple samples. A Fluid Management Systems TurboTrace automated solid phase extraction system with SuperVap concentrator prepared 200, 500, and 1000 milliliter samples of drinking water, ground water, waste water, and aqueous preparations from solids. SPE eluate automatically placed into in direct to vial fraction tubes eliminated sample transfer errors. Twenty-two compound classes extracted from water required two extraction methods, each taking under two hours. Chromatographic separation with MS/MS detection was accomplished with modified EPA 1694 methods. Recoveries using the automated FMS system were consistently between 81 to 109% for 28 analytes primarily targeted. An expanded list of analytes is under development that includes detection of over 40 analytes from a single extraction and LC/MS/MS injection. The automated FMS TurboTrace SPE and SuperVap concentrator allows rapid preparation, sample to sample consistency, and high recoveries of PPCP in aqueous samples. The presentation will detail the sample preparation equipment and methods, analytic methods, and results of samples of various matrices.