Development and validation of methods SPE-LC-MS and MEPS-LC-MS for determination of fluoroquinolones in water samples

Author(s)

Maura Roquete Amparo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2013-04-19

Examining board members

Álvaro José dos Santos Neto

• Advisor: Álvaro José dos Santos Neto

Abstract

Antimicrobials, particularly the fluoroquinolones (FQs) class, are widely used in human and veterinary medicine. Particular attention must be given to the occurrence of these drugs in different environmental matrices, due to the potential spread of bacterial resistance. Effluents from industries, residential districts, hospitals and animal farms are the main sources of contamination by antibiotics. After ingestion, the antimicrobials are excreted in its unchanged form. Due to the low efficiency of conventional wastewater treatments, these antimicrobials are eventually released into the aquatic environment. Several methods have been developed for the determination of FQs in different water samples, such as municipal wastewater, tap water, river water, and hospital sewage. Most of these environmental samples is complex and requires a number of preparation steps, cleaning and preconcentration. For this reason, recently, extensive efforts have been made to develop new techniques for sample preparation in order to reduce: time, number of steps, solvent consumption and achieve better performance on the analytical process. This work describes the development of two methods of extraction - by solid phase extraction (SPE) and microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) - and separation, identification and quantification by HPLC-MS/MS. These methods were evaluated and validated by studying the following parameters: accuracy, precision, recovery, linearity, limit of detection (MDL), limit of quantification (MQL), selectivity, matrix effect, process efficiency and robustness. These methods were subsequently applied for FQs investigation in surface water and sewage sample collected at different points in the city of Sao Carlos/SP, Brazil. The methods recoveries achieved values greater than 80% for the studied FQS and the accuracy and precision values were satisfactory when compared to the values acceptable by regulatory agencies such as EPA and AOAC. A comparison between the extraction techniques developed allowed listing advantages and disadvantages of each particular technique. Besides the lowest solvent consumption and volume of samples, negligible values of matrix effects were achieved for MEPS technique. However, SPE, due to its higher pre-concentration, allowed the quantification of two fluoroquinolones in a sample of sewage and the detection in river sample. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/04527-8 - Development and validation of analytical methodologies for fluoroquinolones remotion in wastewaters treatment by fixed-bed biological reactores
• Grantee: Maura Roquete Amparo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master