The determination of acrylamide in environmental and drinking waters by large-volume injection – hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

•A novel method to quantify acrylamide in surface and drinking waters was developed.•The authors demonstrate the first application of LVI–HILIC.•The finalized method had detection and reporting limits below 20 ng/L.•Acrylamide was detected in water samples from a sand-and-gravel mine.•The fate of acrylamide during drinking water treatment was assessed.

A simple and sensitive analytical method was developed to quantify levels of acrylamide in environmental and drinking waters. The analytical method consisted of solvent exchanging acrylamide from 2 mL of water into 2 mL of dichloromethane using acetonitrile as an intermediate. The sample was then directly analyzed by large-volume (750 μL) injection – hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The method detection limit and reporting level were 2.4 ng/L and 17 ng/L of acrylamide, respectively. The recovery of acrylamide during solvent exchange was 95 ± 2.8% and the matrix effects were 12 ± 2.2% in river water. The use of atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization reduced matrix effects; however, it also reduced method sensitivity by a factor of 2.2 compared to electrospray ionization. Matrix effects were compensated for by the use of an isotopically-labeled internal standard and the method accuracy was 89 ± 3.0% at 25 ng/L of acrylamide and 102 ± 2.6% at 250 ng/L of acrylamide. The precision of the method was less than 6% relative standard deviation at both 25 ng/L and 250 ng/L of acrylamide. Samples from a sand-and-gravel mine and a drinking-water treatment plant were acquired to demonstrate the method. The concentrations of acrylamide at the sand-and-gravel mine were up to 280 ng/L. In the drinking-water treatment plant, the concentration of acrylamide was approximately double in the finished drinking water when compared to other stages in the drinking-water treatment process. Disinfection or fluoridation may result in higher concentrations of acrylamide in finished drinking water; however, further research in this area is necessary.