Analytical Development of Pharmaceuticals in Bio-Toilet Compost Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

Abstract

In this study, we have developed a trace analytical method for pharmaceuticals measurement in biotoilet compost samples by LC/MS/MS system. Firstly, we tried to create a high-sensitive and simultaneous analytical method with LC/MS/MS for 15 pharmaceuticals. As a result, we have successfully detected all target compounds at 0.013-1.1μg/kg level in compost sample. Secondly, we have examined a method of pretreatment including extraction by shaking, supersonication and cleanup by solid phase cartridge for target compounds in compost sample. As a result of recovery test using standard addition method, the good recovery rates, 76-115%, were obtained for 10 out of 15 compounds, except for acetaminophen, atenolol and tetracyclines. From the above-mentioned results, analyzing 10 pharmaceuticals in compost sample became possible. We have analyzed target compounds in compost samples, concentrations of taerget compounds detected by this method was a few μg/kg level and especially, it detected at 35 μg/kg of ketoprofen, which was the highest among target compounds.