Enantiomeric analysis of polycyclic musks in water by chiral gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

•Analysis of five common polycyclic musks in wastewater and the environment.•Enantioselective resolution is assessed for four chiral GC capillary columns.•Excellent enantioselective resolution was achieved for optimised column selection.•MDLs of 1.0–2.4 ng L−1 for single enantiomers achieved in various water matrices.•Comprehensive validation presented for a range of aqueous environmental samples.

Galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN), phantolide (AHDI), traseolide (ATII) and cashmeran (DPMI) are synthetic polycyclic musks (PCMs). They are all commonly used in fragrance industries as racemic mixtures. A sensitive and robust enantioselective analytical method was developed to facilitate measurement of these chemicals in wastewater and environmental samples. The method is based on gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Enantioseparation was assessed using four commercially available chiral capillary columns. Optimised resolution was achieved using a dual-column configuration of a chiral heptakis(2,3- di-O-methyl-6-O-t-butyl dimethylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin column combined with a (non-chiral) HP-5MS column. This configuration was demonstrated to be capable of effectively resolving all commercially manufactured enantiomers of these five PCMs. Method detection limits for single enantiomers in drinking water and surface water range between 1.01 and 2.39 ng L−1. Full validation of the application of this method in these aqueous matrices is provided.