Steroids, botrydial, inorganic cations, and inorganic anions were studied from cold and hot tap water samples with capillary electrophoresis (CE) using UV detection. Identification of the steroids and botrydial was made with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer. Solid phase extraction with nonpolar and ion-exchange sorbents were used to enrich all the analytes except inorganic ions from two litres into 250 microliters to fulfil the method calibration limits in CE and UHPLC. The steroids identified from the drinking water samples were testosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone. Concentrations of progesterone in both cold and hot tap water samples from Helsinki households were from 0.031 ng/L to 0.135 ng/L and from 0.054 ng/L to 0.191 ng/L, respectively. Chloride and nitrate amounts were at 25 mg/L. The highest amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium were 20, 1, 1, and 17 mg/L, respectively. Copper, iron, sulphate, and ammonium were below the method limit for the concentration ranges. The biocultivation of the mold was identified by finding botrydial from all drinking water samples. Its amount in both cold and hot tap water samples was 1900% higher than in the reference tap water (originating from well).The main idea of the research project was to detect male and female hormones in tap water. Because of the low concentrations in purified water, the water samples were concentrated with tandem-SPE methodology. Capillary electrophoresis was used for quantification of male and female endogenic hormones. Ultra-highperformance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer was needed to identify the analytes. In addition, we found precursors of mould in all samples. Botrydial was identified with the MS and MS 2 systems to have the accurate masses for the analytes.According to literature, there are studies on quantification of steroids with LC and GC, but not with the similar CE technique and the new sample handling process as we have described.In addition, the metabolites are as in the waters of the plants (no hydrolysis). Then, we made a new concept for water treatment to catch the steroids and their glucuronide conjugates. When using the new polymer material, we recognised that the supernatant needed treatment to find out whether the steroids were completely adsorbed.
Highlights1. Partial-filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography method used for the determination of steroids and a marker compound of mould in cold and hot tap water samples.2. UHPLC-MS 2 was used for identifying the analytes in extract made with tandem-SPE system.
3.A new repeatable analysis system was developed for the detection of nutrients and human steroids.4. The study has a novelty value, since simultaneous research has not been earlier reported with capillary electrophoresis and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography.
AbstractSteroids, botrydial, inorganic cations, a...