Multiresidue analysis of endocrine-disrupting compounds and perfluorinated sulfates and carboxylic acids in sediments by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue analytical method for the determination of 11 perfluorinated compounds and 22 endocrine-disrupting compounds (ECDs) including 13 natural and synthetic estrogens (free and conjugated forms), 2 alkylphenols, 1 plasticiser, 2 UV-filters, 1 antimicrobial, and 2 organophosphorus compounds in sediments has been developed. Ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) with graphitized carbon black (GCB) cartridge as clean-up step were used. The extraction process yield was optimized in terms of solvent composition. Then, a 32 experimental design was used to optimize solvent volume and sonication time by response surface methodology, which simplifies the optimization procedure. The final extract was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The optimized sample preparation method is simple and robust, and allows recovery of ECDs belonging to different classes in a complex matrix such as sediment. The use of GCB for SPE allowed to obtain with a single clean-up procedure excellent recoveries ranging between 75 and 110% (relative standard deviation <16%). The developed methodology has been successfully applied to the analysis of ECDs in sediments from different rivers and lakes of the Lazio Region (Italy). These analyses have shown the ubiquitous presence of chloro-substituted organophosphorus flame retardants and bisphenol A, while other analyzed compounds were occasionally found at concentration between the limit of detection and quantification.