Suspect screening of halogenated carboxylic acids in drinking water using ion exchange chromatography – high resolution (Orbitrap) mass spectrometry (IC-HRMS)

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 178; pp. 57 - 68
• Main Authors: Gallidabino, Matteo D., Hamdan, Laurence, Murphy, Bronagh, Barron, Leon P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-02-2018
• Subjects: Disinfectant by-products; Haloacetic acids; High resolution accurate mass spectrometry; Ion chromatography; Suspect screening; Water quality; Haloacetic acids; Disinfectant by-products; High resolution accurate mass spectrometry; Ion chromatography; Suspect screening; Water quality
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.08.092

Retrospective in silico screening of analytical data for the identification of new or emerging disinfection by-products in drinking waters could be useful to assess quality and potential hazards, as well as help implement mitigation procedures more rapidly. Herein, the first study coupling ion exchange chromatography (IC) with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for the determination of halogenated carboxylic acid disinfectant by-products is reported. Separation was achieved using a Metrohm A Supp 5 column and a Na2CO3/NaHCO3 gradient eluent from 1/0.31 to 10/3.1mM. A variety of solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbents were tested for added selectivity to organic ions and Isolute ENV+ cartridges were selected because of their best overall extraction performance. Method LODs were in the μgL−1 concentration range, with R2 ≥ 0.99 for all the analytes, and isobaric ions could be easily discriminated using HRMS. The method was applied to municipal drinking water. Targeted quantitative analysis revealed the presence of 10 haloacetic acids at levels not exceeding the limits set by WHO and USEPA. Furthermore, suspect screening for additional halogenated carboxylic acids via retrospective HRMS data analysis also indicated the presence of other iodinated HAAs and chlorinated propionic acids, of which one (i.e. monochloropropionic acid) is discussed here for the first time. Most importantly, several potential suspects could be eliminated from further consideration through HRMS data analysis alone. To our knowledge, this represents the first time that a retrospective IC-HRMS screen of halogenated carboxylic acids in drinking water has been reported.
[Display omitted]
•A new full scan IC-HRMS approach developed and validated for organic DBPs.•Reliable determination of DBPs possible at low-sub μgL−1 level in matrix.•Both quantitative target analysis and suspect screening possible in the same run.•New retrospective HRMS data mining approach applied for additional DBPs.