Analysis of drug of abuse compounds using passive sampling and ultrahigh-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 943 - 953
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Rojas, Carolina A., Gutiérrez Ulloa, Carlos Emilio, Chingaté-López, Sandra M., Lara-Borrero, Jaime A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis Ltd 2023
• Subjects: Continuous flow; Drug abuse; Ecstasy; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; MDMA; Methamphetamine; Monitoring; Positive ions; River basins; Samplers; Sampling; Sorbents; Water analysis
• ISSN: 1093-4529; 1532-4117
• DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2023.2266327

The present study proposes the monitoring of compounds of drugs of abuse through the use of passive samplers in water systems. Initially, four positive ion compounds of interest were determined according to national surveys, and then composite sampling and passive sampling were implemented using continuous-flow passive samplers containing two types of sorbents, the Empore disk and Gerstel Twister. Two study sites were established at the beginning and at the end of the middle Bogotá River basin. After 4 days, the sorbents were removed so that they could be desorbed and analyzed using UHPLC–MS in the laboratory. For the composite samples, the results were below the first calibration curve point (FCCP) of the chromatographic method, and for passive sampling, peaks of benzoylecgonine (BE) (21427.3 pg mL−1), methamphetamine (MET) (67101.5 pg mL−1), MDMA (ecstasy) (225844.8 pg mL−1) and 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) (15908.4 pg mL−1) were found. Therefore, passive sampling could be suggested as an alternative to composite sampling for the monitoring of compounds.