Simple and Sensitive Method for Synchronous Quantification of Regulated and Unregulated Priority Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water

Abstract

Due to their elevated concentrations in drinking water, compared to other emerging environmental contaminants, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have become a global concern. To address this, we have created a simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classes of DBPs. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and iodo-acetic acids (IAAs) are determined using silylation derivatization, replacing diazomethane or acidic methanol derivatization with a more environmentally friendly and simpler treatment process that also offers greater sensitivity. Mono-/di-haloacetaldehydes (mono-/di-HALs) are directly analyzed without derivatization, along with trihalomethanes (THMs), iodo-THMs, haloketones, haloacetonitriles, haloacetamides, and halonitromethanes. Of the 50 DBPs studied, recoveries for most were 70–130%, LOQs for most were 0.01–0.05 μg/L, and relative standard deviations were <30%. We subsequently applied this method to 13 home tap water samples. Total concentrations of 9 classes of DBPs were 39.6–79.2 μg/L, in which unregulated priority DBPs contributed 42% of total DBP concentrations and 97% of total calculated cytotoxicity, highlighting the importance of monitoring their presence in drinking water. Br-DBPs were the dominant contributors to total DBPs (54%) and total calculated cytotoxicity (92%). Nitrogenous DBPs contributed 25% of total DBPs while inducing 57% of total calculated cytotoxicity. HALs were the most important toxicity drivers (40%), particularly four mono-/di-HALs, which induced 28% of total calculated cytotoxicity. This simple and sensitive method allows the synchronous analysis of 9 classes of regulated and unregulated priority DBPs and overcomes the weaknesses of some other methods especially for HAAs/IAAs and mono-/di-HALs, providing a useful tool for research on regulated and unregulated priority DBPs.

Formation Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water in Two of China’s Largest Basins: Yangtze River Basin Versus Yellow River Basin

“…In contrast, the other portion was used to analyze HAAs. Since HAAs are nonvolatile DBPs, they need to undergo derivatization first . The specific derivatization process is as follows: 10 μL of N,O-bis­(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide was added to the sample, and they were reacted at 50 °C in an oven for 30 min before measurement.…”

Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues

“…A new simplified LLE-GC-MS method for 50 DBPs from 9 classes was created by Li et al 130 This method uses a more environmentally friendly/safe silylation derivatization (vs diazomethane) for HAAs and no derivatization for monoand dihaloaldehydes. Recoveries of 70−130% were achieved, along with LOQs of 0.01−0.05 μg/L for most and RSDs < 30%.…”

Better Together: Tandem Mass Spectrometry Achieves up to 50 Times Lower Quantification of 62 Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water

“…Some polar or low-volatility analytes, such as haloacetic acids (HAAs), require chemical derivatization for GC analysis. Multiple derivatization methods have been used successfully for the analysis of HAAs, such as esterification by diazomethane, acidic methanol derivatization, or silylation. ,,− …”