Multiclass LC-MS/MS Determination of Organic Micropollutants in Groundwater

To monitor the chemical quality of environmental samples, from the point of view of sample throughput, robust and time-saving methods for determining pollutants are required. In recent decades, mass spectrometry techniques, particularly when combined with separation methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography, have become increasingly important in environmental applications because they afford high selectivity and sensitivity. The paper proposes an analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of the wide spectrum of micropollutants (pesticides, acidic herbicides, pharmaceutical substances, perfluoroalkyl substances) in groundwater by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Fast and efficient, allowing the determination of 56 compounds: 10 pharmaceuticals, ten perfluorinated analytes, six acidic herbicides, and 30 pesticides with different chemical and physical properties in groundwater samples with no need for a sample preparation step was developed. Validation parameters were determined. Despite the advanced features of the LC-MS/MS technique, the validation process is complicated due to the possible occurrence of matrix effects. The applicability of the method was realized by analysis of groundwater.