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Untargeted characterisation of dissolved organic matter contributions to rivers from anthropogenic point sources using direct‐infusion and high‐performance liquid chromatography/Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Pemberton Jonathan A.,
Lloyd Charlotte E.M.,
Arthur Christopher J.,
Johnes Penny J.,
Dickinson Michael,
Charlton Adrian J.,
Evershed Richard P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8618
Subject(s) - dissolved organic carbon , environmental chemistry , orbitrap , water framework directive , chemistry , european union , effluent , organic matter , aquatic ecosystem , mass spectrometry , sewage treatment , solid phase extraction , environmental science , water quality , chromatography , ecology , environmental engineering , biology , organic chemistry , business , economic policy
Rationale Anthropogenic organic inputs to freshwaters can exert detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, raising growing concern for both environmental conservation and water security. Current regulation by the EU water framework directive (European Union, 2000/60/EC) relates to organic pollution by monitoring selected micropollutants; however, aquatic ecosystem responses require a comprehensive understanding of dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition. The introduction of high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is set to greatly increase our understanding of the composition of DOM of both natural and anthropogenic origin derived from diffuse and point sources. Methods DOM was extracted from riverine and treated sewage effluent using solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and analysed using dissolved organic carbon analysis, direct‐infusion high‐resolution mass spectrometry (DI‐HRMS) and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/HRMS. The data obtained were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics to demonstrate differences in background DOM, anthropogenic inputs and in‐river mixing. Compound identifications were achieved based on MS 2 spectra searched against on‐line databases. Results DI‐HRMS spectra showed the highly complex nature of all DOM SPE extracts. Classification and visualisation of extracts containing many thousands of individual compounds were achieved using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. Kruskal‐Wallis analyses highlighted significant discriminating ions originating from the sewage treatment works for more in‐depth investigation by HPLC/HRMS. The generation of MS 2 spectra in HPLC/HRMS provided the basis for identification of anthropogenic compounds including; pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, metabolites and oligomers, although many thousands of compounds remain unidentified. Conclusions This new approach enables comprehensive analysis of DOM in extracts without any preconceived ideas of the compounds which may be present. This approach has the potential to be used as a high throughput, qualitative, screening method to determine if the composition of point sources differs from that of the receiving water bodies, providing a new approach to the identification of hitherto unrecognised organic contribution to water bodies.