Detecting illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater. Cocaine, amphetamines, morphine and derivatives, the main metabolite of tetahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) methadone and some of their metabolites in wastewater was developed by using solid phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC-MS. Two main factors, matrix effect and sensitivity were carefully considered to optimize the analytical conditions in wastewater. Samples were collected from the influent and effluent wastewater of a treatment plant. Drugs were analyzed using an XTerra MS C18, 100×2.1 mm, 3.5«mu»m columns at a flow rate of 200«mu»L min^-1. The mass spectrometer system was an API 3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, equipped with a turbo ion spray source. The presence of these substances in WWTPs was verified, and each compound was quantified in both the influents and effluents.