A simplified preconcentration method for a range of ultra-trace level pharmaceuticals in natural waters has been developed. Solid phase extraction was performed on-line using a micro-reversed-phase monolithic silica column, allowing for very rapid trace enrichment from large volume (500 ml) samples with minimal sample handling. Acceptable recoveries of >70% were obtained for the majority of compounds investigated and the monolithic columns could be washed and conditioned on-line with no sample carryover and used reproducibly for up to eight extractions each. The on-line SPE-LC-UV method was coupled to electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to increase both selectivity and specificity. Detection limits were determined in spiked river and tap water samples and found to lie in the low ng/l region using sample volumes of 500 ml, loaded at a flow rate of 10 ml/min, and therefore, were suitable for ultra trace analysis. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Chemical Sciences
Research Group:	Analytical chemistry
Research Field:	Separation science
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
UTAS Author:	Nesterenko, PN (Professor Pavel Nesterenko)
UTAS Author:	Paull, B (Professor Brett Paull)
ID Code:	47770
Year Published:	2006
Web of Science® Times Cited:	84
Deposited By:	Chemistry
Deposited On:	2007-09-21
Last Modified:	2011-08-18
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