나태호 (한국과학기술연구원)

나태호 (한국과학기술연구원)

나태호 (한국과학기술연구원)

이정애 (한국과학기술연구원)

 Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are introduced into the environment through various sources, including agrochemicals, hygiene products, and cleaning agents, where they can persist due to their resistance to biodegradation, adversely affecting water quality. This study aims to develop robust methods for the detection and quantification of PPCPs in water samples employing liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The methodology utilizes a C18 stationary phase and operates in positive electrospray ionization mode. The optimization of solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges was a critical component of the study, due to the pH-dependent nature of these substances. We evaluated the performance of different SPE cartridges—HLB, MAX, and WCX—by calculating analyte recovery rates across varying pH levels: acidic (pH 2), neutral (pH 6), and basic (pH 10) to establish the optimal conditions for extraction. SPE was conducted using HLB and WCX cartridges in a neutral pH environment, with analytes eluted using methanol mixed with 1.7% formic acid. The eluate was subsequently evaporated under nitrogen and reconstituted in a solution of 0.1% formic acid in 20% methanol. Furthermore, a Selected Reaction Monitoring  method for 17 PPCPs was developed by fine-tuning collision energies through direct injection. The parameters for ionization and collision energies were optimized using higher-energy collisional dissociation and collision-induced dissociation modes. The methodologies established in this study will facilitate future monitoring of PPCPs in drinking and raw water samples from 70 regions across the nation.

​