Validation of modified QuEChERS method for metformin and triclosan quantification in sewage using LC-MS

ABSTRACT

The compounds in pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) that may be potential environmental pollutants include metformin and triclosan. The suitable method to estimate the presence of metformin (MET) and triclosan (TRI) in wastewater treatment facilities is developed and validated in this research study. This study aimed to quantify the MET and TRI in sewage through a liquid chromatograph – mass spectrometer (LC-MS 8040) by a Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) technique of sample preparation. In LC-MS 8040, the Milli-Q water and sewage were examined at three different concentrations (0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 mg L⁻¹) of MET and TRI. The recoveries of MET in both the matrixes ranged between 88.10 to 116.10% whereas the recoveries were ranged from 86.70 to 116.30% for TRI (n = 7, RSD <10%). The respective limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for MET and TRI were 0.005 and 0.01 mg L⁻¹. With the matrix effect of < 10% in sewage, the approach was shown to be very linear (R² = 0.9969 for MET and R² = 0.9939 for TRI) and reliable. The precision was also exemplary with the RSD value of < 10% (n = 6). This method accurately assessed MET (BDL to 0.0657 mg L⁻¹) and TRI (BDL to 0.1833 mg L⁻¹) concentrations in sewage samples of Ukkadam sewage treatment plant (USTP) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University treatment plant (TSTP). This is a unique use of the QuEChERS method for calculating these two compounds from aqueous matrixes with substantially greater outputs (20–25 samples per day) than typical Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) procedures.

KEYWORDS:

• Metformin
• triclosan
• QuEChERS method and liquid chromatograph - mass spectrometer (LC-MS)

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for providing the Junior Research Fellowship. The author would also like to gratefully acknowledge the provision of the instrument facility by the Department of Sustainable Organic Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Disclosure statement

We, the authors of this manuscript, certify that we have No affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial or non-financial interests in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author would like to thank University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for providing the Junior Research Fellowship.