Synthesis and characterization of a sulfonic species-based mesoporous sorbent for the pre-concentration of nine personal care products in wastewater and swimming pool water

Abstract

A mesoporous material functionalized with sulfonic moieties has been synthesized by co-condensation. The functionalized material was characterized and then employed for the solid phase extraction of nine personal care products (UV filters and parabens) in effluent wastewater and swimming pool water. UV filters and parabens were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Validation parameters (linearity, matrix effect, limit of quantitation, trueness and precision) were established according to the EURACHEM Guide using a blank effluent wastewater sample. The new sorbent enabled the selective extraction of the target analytes from the rest of matrix components, with low matrix effect (ME ≤ |20%|) for all analytes, the exception being isopropylparaben with a ME = −27%. The effect of the co-extracted components from the effluent water sample in the recovery study was evaluated using external calibration curves (using standard solutions) and the standard addition method. Similar results were obtained using both methodologies and, according to the validation guide requirements, slightly better results were obtained using the standard addition methodology (75.0−99.6%) compared to external calibration (66.7−115.2%). The quantitation limits ranged between 0.5 and 5.0 ng L−1 in wastewater. Two types of real samples (effluent wastewater and swimming pool water) were pre-concentrated using the optimized methodology. Four parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, benzylparaben and butylparaben) and two UV filters (4-hydroxybenzophenone and 4,4´-dihydroxybenzophenone) were found in the effluent water sample at ng L−1 concentration levels. In addition, the same four parabens and 4,4´-dihydroxybenzophenone were detected in the swimming pool water at slightly lower concentrations than those found in wastewater