Development of methods for miniaturized solid phase extraction for preconcentration of degradation products of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in aqueous matrix

Author(s)

Júlia Martins

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2015-03-10

Examining board members

Álvaro José dos Santos Neto; Marcelo Zaiat

• Advisor: Álvaro José dos Santos Neto

Abstract

Antibiotics are present both surface water and groundwater and this is motive of concern, due to their ability to cause bacterial resistance. Nevertheless, most of publications in scientific area focuses in unchanged compounds, even knowing the presence of degraded molecules in the environment. These degradation products might be so or more dangerous than unchanged compounds. In this work, extraction methods for degradation products were developed using microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS). MEPS is an eco-friendly technique due to little consumption of sample, solvents and sorbent. The degradation products of sulfamethazine (SMZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were generated by photodegradation at 25 mg L-1 and <br clear=\"all\" /> 10 mg L-1 of unchanged drug, respectively. The number of degradation products was six for SMZ and eight for CIP. Oasis&reg; HLB and carbon nanotubes were tested as sorbents and the first got better results in preconcentration. The chromatographic analysis was performed by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-ToF). Recovery rates obtained by MEPS were greater than 50%, which is a significant result, considering structural differences among degradation products. After setting extraction conditions, MEPS was able to recover degradation products at concentrations 100 times lower and more akin to those find in the environment. Using synthetic sewage as medium, matrix effect studies were performed. The prevalent effect was an increase of ionization in degradation products (both SMZ and CIP), just one SMZ product experienced suppression of ionization. At last, SMZ was degraded in an anaerobic reactor and the degradation products were preconcentrated by MEPS. Although the biological degradation products were not the same of photodegradation (except by one), MEPS was capable to preconcentrate them. Thereby, MEPS starts to dawn as a promising technique to preconcentrate degradation products, specially for researchers using biological reactors, since MEPS requires low volumes of sample and almost do not change the final bulk of reactor. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/06415-8 - Development of methods for miniaturized solid phase extraction for preconcentration of degradation products of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in aqueous matrix
• Grantee: Júlia Martins
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master