Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry-based detection to determine emerging organic contaminants in environmental samples

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) has gained widespread acceptance as an alternative to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) for the retention and separation of polar compounds. Because a great number of emerging organic contaminants are polar, this represents progress in terms of solving most of the problems and limitations encountered in the conventional methods developed for their determination. In this review, recent HILIC applications developed in the environmental field are described, which are normally coupled with mass spectrometry, in order to reach the limits required to quantify contaminants present at trace levels and benefit from its capacity for confirmation. Special attention is paid to the stationary and mobile phases commonly used in terms of the advantages that they offer compared to reversed-phase columns and the high-water content mobile phases traditionally used in RPLC. The most important features related to the matrices and contaminants normally studied are also discussed, as well as the contribution of the HILIC mode towards reducing the matrix effect.