Nitrofurans in natural waters: optimisation and validation of SPE-based method using UHPLC-HRMS techniques

ABSTRACT

A technique employing solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry system was established for quantifying nitrofurans (NFs) in various environmental water samples, such as river, sea, and lake water. The samples were prepared, and the analytes were preconcentrated using an Oasis HLB cartridge. The experimental parameters, including the pH value and the extraction solvent, were thoroughly optimised. The method detection limits ranged from 2.5 to 10 ng L⁻¹. The recoveries of the target compounds at three spiking levels varied between 76% and 102%, while the repeatability ranged from 4.1% to 9.0%. The optimised technique was applied to examine its performance in water samples obtained from various aquatic systems, impacted by aquaculture facilities. The proposed method proved to be simple, sensitive, and suitable for the simultaneous analysis and monitoring study of NFs in natural water samples.

KEYWORDS:

• LC-LTQ/Orbitrap HRMS
• nitrofurans
• water
• aquaculture
• solid phase extraction

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Unit of Environmental, Organic and Biochemical high-resolution analysis–Orbitrap-LC–MS of the University of Ioannina, Greece for providing access to the facilities. In addition, we acknowledge support of this work by the project “Development of research infrastructure for the design, production, development of quality characteristics and safety of agrofoods and functional foods (RI-Agrofoods)” (MIS 5047235) which is implemented under the Action “Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure”, funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2024.2353373

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the NSRF-RI-Agrofoods [MIS 5047235].