ABSTRACT
This study presents the development, optimization, and validation of a novel method for the determination of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), using toluene as dopant. The mass spectra of PCN 52, 54, 66, 67, 73, and 75 were recorded in negative ionization. The base ions corresponded to [M-Cl+O](-), where M is the analyte molecule. A strategy, which includes designs of experiments, for the development, the evaluation, and the optimization of the LC-APPI-MS/MS methods is also described. Finally, a highly sensitive method with low instrumental limits of detection (LoDs), ranging from 0.8 pg for PCN 75 to 16 pg for PCN 54 on column, was validated. A Thermo Hypersil Green PAH (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 3 µm) column was used with acetonitrile/water/methanol as mobile phase. The method was applied for the determination of the selected PCNs in surface and tap water samples. A simple liquid-liquid extraction method for the extraction of PCNs from water samples was used. Method LoQs ranged from 29 ng L(-1), for PCN 73, to 63 ng L(-1), for PCN 54, and the recoveries ranged from 97 to 99%, for all congeners. This is the first LC-APPI-MS/MS method for the determination of PCNs in water samples.
ABSTRACT
This study presents the atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) of high-chlorinated (five or more chlorine atoms) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using toluene as dopant, after liquid chromatographic separation. Mass spectra of PCB 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 199, 206 and 209 were recorded by using liquid chromatography-APPI-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APPI-MS/MS) in negative ion full scan mode. Intense peaks appeared at m/z that correspond to [M - Cl + O](-) ions, where M is the analyte molecule. Furthermore, a detailed strategy, which includes designs of experiments, for the development and optimization of LC-APPI-MS/MS methods is described. Following this strategy, a sensitive and accurate method with low instrumental limits of detection, ranging from 0.29 pg for PCB 209 to 8.3 pg for PCB 101 on column, was developed. For the separation of the analytes, a Waters XSELECT HSS T3 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 2.5 µm) column was used with methanol/water as elution system. This method was applied for the determination of the above PCBs in water samples (surface water, tap water and treated wastewater). For the extraction of PCBs from water samples, a simple liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane was used. Method limits of quantification, ranged from 4.8 ng l(-1), for PCB 199, to 9.4 ng l(-1), for PCB 180, and the recoveries ranged from 73%, for PCB 101, to 96%, for PCB 199. The estimated analytical figures were appropriate for trace analysis of high-chlorinated PCBs in real samples.
