Mira Petrovic - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mira Petrovic

Nanomaterials

Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated via a facile impregnation/calcination technique employi... more Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated via a facile impregnation/calcination technique employing different amounts iron (III) nitrate onto commercial TiO2 (P25 Aeroxide). The as-prepared Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). As a result, 5% (w/w) Fe2O3/TiO2 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity in the slurry system and was successfully immobilized on glass support. Photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation was assessed by treating pharmaceutical amoxicillin (AMX) in the presence and absence of additional oxidants: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and persulfate salts (PS). The influence of pH and PS concentration on AMX conversion rate was es...

Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology

This work aims at integrating the last advances in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and s... more This work aims at integrating the last advances in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and statistical analysis to develop and optimize a smart methodology (workflow) for the assessment of the performance of innovative water treatments using different technological approaches based on advanced oxidation processes with UV-254nm: (i) UV/K2S2O8, where oxidation takes place mainly following the initial formation of sulfate radicals, (ii) UV/KHSO5, where oxidation begins with the formation of both sulfate and hydroxyl radicals and (iii) UV/H2O2, when only the formation of hydroxyl radicals takes place initially. Experiments were carried out using secondary effluent from a local wastewater treatment plant. The developed workflow allows the evaluation of the treatments in terms of overall oxidation through the careful study of Van Krevelen diagrams, where all information of the HRMS chromatograms is considered. The potential formation of transformation products with sulfur due to the ...

International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2018

A fast, simple, low-cost and high-throughput multiresidue pesticide analysis method was developed... more A fast, simple, low-cost and high-throughput multiresidue pesticide analysis method was developed and validated for 300 pesticides in herbal and fruit infusion samples based on modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) procedure combined with gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method (GC-MS/MS). The objectives were to develop low cost GC-MS/MS method, validate the method in accordance to SANTE/11,813/2017 guidance document and application in routine. The results obtained using different GC and MS/MS parameters were evaluated in order to develop quick, robust, accurate and effective multiresidue method. Total analysis time was 28 min with 0.6 µL injection volume. For accurate quantification, matrix-matched calibration (MMC) curves (in range of 10 µg/kg-250 µg/kg) were applied to compensate matrix effect. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were ranged between 0.06 µg/ kg and 135 µg/kg, and for the majority of the pesticides the LOQ were below the regulatory maximum residue limits. Most recoveries at 10 µg/kg and 100 µg/kg were in the range 70%-120% indicating satisfactory accuracy. The validated method was applied to commercial herbal and fruit infusion products detecting chlorpyriphos, DEET, tebuconazole, terbuthylazine, piperonyl butoxide, biphenyl, pendimethalin, pirimiphos-methyl and p,p'-DDE in more than 100 samples from 1,466 so risk assessment on human health was calculated specially for those pesticides.

Science of The Total Environment, 2020

• (Bio)degradation of 8 Watch list compounds studied in conventional activated sludge • Fate of c... more • (Bio)degradation of 8 Watch list compounds studied in conventional activated sludge • Fate of clothianidin, thiacloprid and methiocarb presented for the first time • Maximum overall removal: aerobic conditions, 5 g/L biomass, 25°C and pH 7.5 • Sorption is relevant for certain compounds, particularly EE2 and diclofenac. • Removal rates generally unsatisfactory except for E2. Great variability observed

ChemInform, 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was e... more ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2011

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2004

Identification, resolution and distribution of main microcontaminant sources of endocrine disrupt... more Identification, resolution and distribution of main microcontaminant sources of endocrine disruptors in harbour and coastal waters and sediments of Spain are investigated using chemometric methods. Eighteen different endocrine disruptor chemical compounds including nonionic surfactants, their degradation products, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, found in a total number of 74 samples, (35 water samples and 39 sediment samples), corresponding to a period of 16 months, from March 1999 to July 2000, and in 32 different geographical sites along the Mediterranean Spanish coast such as the Barcelona, Tarragona, Almeria harbour, Malaga and the Bay of Cadiz were investigated. Main contamination sources of these endocrine disruptor compounds were investigated and interpreted according to their chemical composition and according to their resolved geographical distribution profiles.

Biodegradation of Pharmaceuticals by Fungi and Metabolites Identification

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2012

ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical compounds comprise a widely employed group of therapeutic agents now cons... more ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical compounds comprise a widely employed group of therapeutic agents now considered as emerging micropollutants. This chapter summarizes the state of the art in the degradation of pharmaceuticals by fungi in liquid matrices (with emphasis on white-rot fungi), including the use of both whole cells and fungal enzymes. The identification of the metabolites produced as well as the proposed degradation pathways available for some drugs are discussed. The information is organized according to the activity of the pharmaceutical compounds, grouped in: anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs, psychiatric drugs, lipid regulators, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, β-blockers, estrogens, and iodinated contrast media. Considering the interest in potential application of fungal treatments in future real scale bioremediation of effluents, the ecotoxicology of the process is included when available.

Wastewater Reuse in the Mediterranean Area of Catalonia, Spain: Case Study of Reuse of Tertiary Effluent from a Wastewater Treatment Plant at el Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona)

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2010

Abstract The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are under a constant threat of water scar... more Abstract The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are under a constant threat of water scarcity due to both natural and anthropogenic factor including highly uneven temporal and spatial distribution of precipitations, growing populations, increasing water demand particularly for agriculture, and the widespread contamination of water resources by a plethora of organic and inorganic contaminants. Unlike most northern European countries with their

Pollution-induced community tolerance to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in fluvial biofilm communities affected by WWTP effluents

Chemosphere, 2014

We assessed the tolerance acquired by stream biofilms to two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory-drug... more We assessed the tolerance acquired by stream biofilms to two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory-drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen and diclofenac. Biofilms came from a stream system receiving the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The response of biofilms from a non-polluted site (upstream the WWTP) was compared to that of others downstream with relevant and decreasing levels of NSAIDs. Experiments performed in the laboratory following the pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) approach determined that both algae and microbial communities from biofilms of the sites exposed at the highest concentrations of ibuprofen and diclofenac acquired tolerance to the mixture of these NSAIDs occurring at the sites. It was also observed that the chronic pollution by the WWTP effluent affected the microbial metabolic profile, as well as the structure of the algal community. The low (at ng L(-1) level) but chronic inputs of pharmaceuticals to the river ecosystem result in tolerant communities of lower diversity and altered microbial metabolism.

Sources, Occurrence, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals in the Ebro River Basin

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2010

Freshwaters are an essential resource which must be available not only in the required quantity b... more Freshwaters are an essential resource which must be available not only in the required quantity but also in a precise quality. Only less than 1% of the world’s freshwater resources are readily available for human use, and even this resource is unevenly distributed among the countries. In developed countries, their contamination is the adverse outcome of incomplete wastewater treatment and

Emerging contaminants in wastewaters

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2007

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2007

In this overview article celebrating the 25th anniversary of TrAC, we will discuss the progress o... more In this overview article celebrating the 25th anniversary of TrAC, we will discuss the progress of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and LC-tandem MS (LC-MS 2) in environmental analysis. The article will cover challenges and achievements of LC-MS in environmental analysis with emphasis on the developments that occurred over 20 years and the impact caused by the discovery of electrospray and its applications to organic trace analysis. We will also outline the history of TrAC in relation to the publication of papers dealing with LC-MS applied to environmental analysis. The second part of the article will be devoted to LC-MS 2 as the preferred method of choice in environmental analysis. We will report on applications on the use of triple quadupoles and hybrid technologies (e.g., Qq-LIT. Qq-TOF and Orbitrap) for a variety of the so-called emerging contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, pesticides and endocrine disruptors).

Occurrence, distribution and partitioning of nonionic surfactants and pharmaceuticals in the urbanized Long Island Sound Estuary (NY)

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2014

This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alco... more This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alcohol ethoxylates), their metabolites (NP, nonylphenol; NPEC, nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates; and PEG, polyethylene glycols) and a selection of 64 pharmaceuticals in the Long Island Sound (LIS) Estuary which receives important sewage discharges from New York City (NYC). Most target compounds were efficiently removed (>95%) in one wastewater treatment plant monitored, with the exception of NPEC and some specific drugs (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide). Concentrations of surfactants (1.4-4.5 μg L(-1)) and pharmaceuticals (0.1-0.3 μg L(-1)) in seawater were influenced by tides and sampling depth, consistent with salinity differences. Surfactants levels in suspended solids samples were higher than 1 μg g(-1), whereas only most hydrophobic or positively charged pharmaceuticals could be found (e.g., tamoxifen, clarithromycin). Maximum levels of target compounds in LIS sediments (PEG at highest concentrations, 2.8 μg g(-1)) were measured nearest NYC, sharply decreasing with distance from major sewage inputs.

Occurrence and Removal of Estrogenic Short-Chain Ethoxy Nonylphenolic Compounds and Their Halogenated Derivatives during Drinking Water Production

Environmental Science & Technology, 2003

Simultaneous Determination of Halogenated Derivatives of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Their Metabolites in Sludges, River Sediments, and Surface, Drinking, and Wastewaters by Liquid Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

Analytical Chemistry, 2001

A quantitative solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MS) method ... more A quantitative solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MS) method is described for the simultaneous analysis of halogenated byproducts of alkylphenolic compounds and their degradation products formed during chlorine disinfection in the presence of bromide ions. Compounds analyzed include brominated and chlorinated nonylphenol ethoxylates (XN-PEOs); octylphenol ethoxylates (XOPEOs); nonylphenols (XNP); nonylphenoxycarboxylates (XNPECs) and their precursors nonionic surfactants, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs); and their metabolites formed during sewage treatment, alkylphenoxycarboxylates (APECs) and alkylphenols (APs). Target compounds were concentrated from water samples using a C18 SPE procedure. Extracts were analyzed using reversed phase LC/MS. The performances of both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray (ESI) interfaces were compared. ESI offered better sensitivity and specificity for a higher range of oligomers. Detection limits (LODs) for water samples were from 20 to 100 ng/L; and for sediment samples, from 2 to 10 microg/kg. Slightly higher LODs were obtained for sludge samples (5-25 microg/kg). Halogenated byproducts were found in sludge from Barcelona drinking water treatment plant in concentrations of 220 microg/kg for BrNP, 430 microg/kg for BrNPEOs (nEO = 1 - 2), and 1600 microg/kg for BrNPEOs (nEO = 3 - 15). The concentration of ClNPEOs was estimated to be in the order of 660 microg/kg (assuming the same response as BrNPEOs). Halogenated OPEOs were also identified, and their concentration was approximately 50 times lower than the concentration of NPEOs analogues. To our knowledge, this is the first method described that allows simultaneous determination of alkyphenol ethoxylates and halogenated derivatives, including degradation products.

MethodsX, 2020

Vinasse, a liquid waste which originates from the production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, has ... more Vinasse, a liquid waste which originates from the production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, has been widely used as soil amendment in Brazil. An important concern that arises from vinasse reuse is the dissemination of antibiotics to the environment through crop soils. This work evaluated the performance of Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) to extract several multipleclass antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, ionophores, lincosamides, macrolides, quinolones, streptogramin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and others, from agricultural soils. The performance of several parameters was evaluated for both PLE and QuEChERS, such as the extraction temperature (for PLE), solvents composition, pH and the addition of EDTA. Both methods were able to extract most target antibiotics. However, QuEChERS showed higher recoveries for macrolides and nitroimidazoles, while PLE was more suitable for fluoroquinolones and ionophores (i.e. monensin). The use of citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, in combination with methanol for PLE and with acetonitrile for QuEChERS, provided the highest antibiotic recoveries for both methods. The use of EDTA did not increase antibiotic recovery rates for QuEChERS, while the temperature had almost no influence on the extraction efficiency in PLE. • Citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 provided higher antibiotic recoveries for QuEChERS and PLE. • The combination buffer-methanol provided higher recoveries for PLE. • QuEChERS and PLE methods were able to extract most of the target antibiotics.

Science of The Total Environment, 2018

The fate and transport of 34 veterinary pharmaceuticals (PhACs) is investigated in swine slurry a... more The fate and transport of 34 veterinary pharmaceuticals (PhACs) is investigated in swine slurry and dairy cattle manure-amended agricultural soils, from an experimental field site, by using both analytical and modelled data. Potential differences on PhACs fate, attributed to the application of distinct swine slurry fractions (total, solid, and liquid), are herein assessed for the first time. Surface and deep soil layers, up to a depth of 120 cm, were analyzed at different periods after an annual fertilization event. Using input data representing typical agricultural soil conditions and the PhACs concentration measured in organic fertilizers the transport of these pollutants was modelled for a period of 10 years, including the monitored annual fertilization event. Fluoroquinolone, tetracycline and pleuromutilin antibiotics, together with anti-helmintics and analgesic and anti-inflammatories, were detected in manure-amended soils, at average concentrations ranging from 0.078 to 150 µg/kg dw in surface layers, with the highest levels found in the fields fertilized with the swine slurry solid fraction. Even though severe disagreements were observed between experimental and simulated PhACs concentrations along the soil column, both approaches pointed out that target compounds strongly adsorb onto surface layers, showing limited mobility along the soil profile. Thus, repeated manure and slurry fertilizations will contribute in building up persistent PhACs residues in the uppermost layers of the soil, while leaching will be a minor process governing their fate towards the subsurface. The ecotoxicological risks posed by the occurrence of PhACs in soils were estimated to be low for terrestrial organisms. Nevertheless the antibiotic enrofloxacin showed some potential to induce negative effects to crops.

Science of The Total Environment, 2018

Hydrogeological, chemical, and isotopic data assess antibiotic pollution in groundwater. • Most f... more Hydrogeological, chemical, and isotopic data assess antibiotic pollution in groundwater. • Most frequent antibiotics are sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. • A lack of spatial correlation exists for antibiotic occurrence, yet not for nitrate. • Fate of antibiotics in groundwater not only depend on chemical properties but on hydrogeology.

Nanomaterials

Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated via a facile impregnation/calcination technique employi... more Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated via a facile impregnation/calcination technique employing different amounts iron (III) nitrate onto commercial TiO2 (P25 Aeroxide). The as-prepared Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). As a result, 5% (w/w) Fe2O3/TiO2 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity in the slurry system and was successfully immobilized on glass support. Photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation was assessed by treating pharmaceutical amoxicillin (AMX) in the presence and absence of additional oxidants: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and persulfate salts (PS). The influence of pH and PS concentration on AMX conversion rate was es...

Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology

This work aims at integrating the last advances in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and s... more This work aims at integrating the last advances in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and statistical analysis to develop and optimize a smart methodology (workflow) for the assessment of the performance of innovative water treatments using different technological approaches based on advanced oxidation processes with UV-254nm: (i) UV/K2S2O8, where oxidation takes place mainly following the initial formation of sulfate radicals, (ii) UV/KHSO5, where oxidation begins with the formation of both sulfate and hydroxyl radicals and (iii) UV/H2O2, when only the formation of hydroxyl radicals takes place initially. Experiments were carried out using secondary effluent from a local wastewater treatment plant. The developed workflow allows the evaluation of the treatments in terms of overall oxidation through the careful study of Van Krevelen diagrams, where all information of the HRMS chromatograms is considered. The potential formation of transformation products with sulfur due to the ...

International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2018

A fast, simple, low-cost and high-throughput multiresidue pesticide analysis method was developed... more A fast, simple, low-cost and high-throughput multiresidue pesticide analysis method was developed and validated for 300 pesticides in herbal and fruit infusion samples based on modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) procedure combined with gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method (GC-MS/MS). The objectives were to develop low cost GC-MS/MS method, validate the method in accordance to SANTE/11,813/2017 guidance document and application in routine. The results obtained using different GC and MS/MS parameters were evaluated in order to develop quick, robust, accurate and effective multiresidue method. Total analysis time was 28 min with 0.6 µL injection volume. For accurate quantification, matrix-matched calibration (MMC) curves (in range of 10 µg/kg-250 µg/kg) were applied to compensate matrix effect. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were ranged between 0.06 µg/ kg and 135 µg/kg, and for the majority of the pesticides the LOQ were below the regulatory maximum residue limits. Most recoveries at 10 µg/kg and 100 µg/kg were in the range 70%-120% indicating satisfactory accuracy. The validated method was applied to commercial herbal and fruit infusion products detecting chlorpyriphos, DEET, tebuconazole, terbuthylazine, piperonyl butoxide, biphenyl, pendimethalin, pirimiphos-methyl and p,p'-DDE in more than 100 samples from 1,466 so risk assessment on human health was calculated specially for those pesticides.

Science of The Total Environment, 2020

• (Bio)degradation of 8 Watch list compounds studied in conventional activated sludge • Fate of c... more • (Bio)degradation of 8 Watch list compounds studied in conventional activated sludge • Fate of clothianidin, thiacloprid and methiocarb presented for the first time • Maximum overall removal: aerobic conditions, 5 g/L biomass, 25°C and pH 7.5 • Sorption is relevant for certain compounds, particularly EE2 and diclofenac. • Removal rates generally unsatisfactory except for E2. Great variability observed

ChemInform, 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was e... more ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2011

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2004

Identification, resolution and distribution of main microcontaminant sources of endocrine disrupt... more Identification, resolution and distribution of main microcontaminant sources of endocrine disruptors in harbour and coastal waters and sediments of Spain are investigated using chemometric methods. Eighteen different endocrine disruptor chemical compounds including nonionic surfactants, their degradation products, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, found in a total number of 74 samples, (35 water samples and 39 sediment samples), corresponding to a period of 16 months, from March 1999 to July 2000, and in 32 different geographical sites along the Mediterranean Spanish coast such as the Barcelona, Tarragona, Almeria harbour, Malaga and the Bay of Cadiz were investigated. Main contamination sources of these endocrine disruptor compounds were investigated and interpreted according to their chemical composition and according to their resolved geographical distribution profiles.

Biodegradation of Pharmaceuticals by Fungi and Metabolites Identification

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2012

ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical compounds comprise a widely employed group of therapeutic agents now cons... more ABSTRACT Pharmaceutical compounds comprise a widely employed group of therapeutic agents now considered as emerging micropollutants. This chapter summarizes the state of the art in the degradation of pharmaceuticals by fungi in liquid matrices (with emphasis on white-rot fungi), including the use of both whole cells and fungal enzymes. The identification of the metabolites produced as well as the proposed degradation pathways available for some drugs are discussed. The information is organized according to the activity of the pharmaceutical compounds, grouped in: anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs, psychiatric drugs, lipid regulators, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, β-blockers, estrogens, and iodinated contrast media. Considering the interest in potential application of fungal treatments in future real scale bioremediation of effluents, the ecotoxicology of the process is included when available.

Wastewater Reuse in the Mediterranean Area of Catalonia, Spain: Case Study of Reuse of Tertiary Effluent from a Wastewater Treatment Plant at el Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona)

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2010

Abstract The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are under a constant threat of water scar... more Abstract The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are under a constant threat of water scarcity due to both natural and anthropogenic factor including highly uneven temporal and spatial distribution of precipitations, growing populations, increasing water demand particularly for agriculture, and the widespread contamination of water resources by a plethora of organic and inorganic contaminants. Unlike most northern European countries with their

Pollution-induced community tolerance to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in fluvial biofilm communities affected by WWTP effluents

Chemosphere, 2014

We assessed the tolerance acquired by stream biofilms to two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory-drug... more We assessed the tolerance acquired by stream biofilms to two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory-drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen and diclofenac. Biofilms came from a stream system receiving the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The response of biofilms from a non-polluted site (upstream the WWTP) was compared to that of others downstream with relevant and decreasing levels of NSAIDs. Experiments performed in the laboratory following the pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) approach determined that both algae and microbial communities from biofilms of the sites exposed at the highest concentrations of ibuprofen and diclofenac acquired tolerance to the mixture of these NSAIDs occurring at the sites. It was also observed that the chronic pollution by the WWTP effluent affected the microbial metabolic profile, as well as the structure of the algal community. The low (at ng L(-1) level) but chronic inputs of pharmaceuticals to the river ecosystem result in tolerant communities of lower diversity and altered microbial metabolism.

Sources, Occurrence, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals in the Ebro River Basin

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 2010

Freshwaters are an essential resource which must be available not only in the required quantity b... more Freshwaters are an essential resource which must be available not only in the required quantity but also in a precise quality. Only less than 1% of the world’s freshwater resources are readily available for human use, and even this resource is unevenly distributed among the countries. In developed countries, their contamination is the adverse outcome of incomplete wastewater treatment and

Emerging contaminants in wastewaters

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2007

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2007

In this overview article celebrating the 25th anniversary of TrAC, we will discuss the progress o... more In this overview article celebrating the 25th anniversary of TrAC, we will discuss the progress of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and LC-tandem MS (LC-MS 2) in environmental analysis. The article will cover challenges and achievements of LC-MS in environmental analysis with emphasis on the developments that occurred over 20 years and the impact caused by the discovery of electrospray and its applications to organic trace analysis. We will also outline the history of TrAC in relation to the publication of papers dealing with LC-MS applied to environmental analysis. The second part of the article will be devoted to LC-MS 2 as the preferred method of choice in environmental analysis. We will report on applications on the use of triple quadupoles and hybrid technologies (e.g., Qq-LIT. Qq-TOF and Orbitrap) for a variety of the so-called emerging contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, pesticides and endocrine disruptors).

Occurrence, distribution and partitioning of nonionic surfactants and pharmaceuticals in the urbanized Long Island Sound Estuary (NY)

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2014

This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alco... more This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alcohol ethoxylates), their metabolites (NP, nonylphenol; NPEC, nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates; and PEG, polyethylene glycols) and a selection of 64 pharmaceuticals in the Long Island Sound (LIS) Estuary which receives important sewage discharges from New York City (NYC). Most target compounds were efficiently removed (>95%) in one wastewater treatment plant monitored, with the exception of NPEC and some specific drugs (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide). Concentrations of surfactants (1.4-4.5 μg L(-1)) and pharmaceuticals (0.1-0.3 μg L(-1)) in seawater were influenced by tides and sampling depth, consistent with salinity differences. Surfactants levels in suspended solids samples were higher than 1 μg g(-1), whereas only most hydrophobic or positively charged pharmaceuticals could be found (e.g., tamoxifen, clarithromycin). Maximum levels of target compounds in LIS sediments (PEG at highest concentrations, 2.8 μg g(-1)) were measured nearest NYC, sharply decreasing with distance from major sewage inputs.

Occurrence and Removal of Estrogenic Short-Chain Ethoxy Nonylphenolic Compounds and Their Halogenated Derivatives during Drinking Water Production

Environmental Science & Technology, 2003

Simultaneous Determination of Halogenated Derivatives of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Their Metabolites in Sludges, River Sediments, and Surface, Drinking, and Wastewaters by Liquid Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

Analytical Chemistry, 2001

A quantitative solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MS) method ... more A quantitative solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MS) method is described for the simultaneous analysis of halogenated byproducts of alkylphenolic compounds and their degradation products formed during chlorine disinfection in the presence of bromide ions. Compounds analyzed include brominated and chlorinated nonylphenol ethoxylates (XN-PEOs); octylphenol ethoxylates (XOPEOs); nonylphenols (XNP); nonylphenoxycarboxylates (XNPECs) and their precursors nonionic surfactants, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs); and their metabolites formed during sewage treatment, alkylphenoxycarboxylates (APECs) and alkylphenols (APs). Target compounds were concentrated from water samples using a C18 SPE procedure. Extracts were analyzed using reversed phase LC/MS. The performances of both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray (ESI) interfaces were compared. ESI offered better sensitivity and specificity for a higher range of oligomers. Detection limits (LODs) for water samples were from 20 to 100 ng/L; and for sediment samples, from 2 to 10 microg/kg. Slightly higher LODs were obtained for sludge samples (5-25 microg/kg). Halogenated byproducts were found in sludge from Barcelona drinking water treatment plant in concentrations of 220 microg/kg for BrNP, 430 microg/kg for BrNPEOs (nEO = 1 - 2), and 1600 microg/kg for BrNPEOs (nEO = 3 - 15). The concentration of ClNPEOs was estimated to be in the order of 660 microg/kg (assuming the same response as BrNPEOs). Halogenated OPEOs were also identified, and their concentration was approximately 50 times lower than the concentration of NPEOs analogues. To our knowledge, this is the first method described that allows simultaneous determination of alkyphenol ethoxylates and halogenated derivatives, including degradation products.

MethodsX, 2020

Vinasse, a liquid waste which originates from the production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, has ... more Vinasse, a liquid waste which originates from the production of ethanol fuel from sugarcane, has been widely used as soil amendment in Brazil. An important concern that arises from vinasse reuse is the dissemination of antibiotics to the environment through crop soils. This work evaluated the performance of Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) to extract several multipleclass antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, ionophores, lincosamides, macrolides, quinolones, streptogramin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and others, from agricultural soils. The performance of several parameters was evaluated for both PLE and QuEChERS, such as the extraction temperature (for PLE), solvents composition, pH and the addition of EDTA. Both methods were able to extract most target antibiotics. However, QuEChERS showed higher recoveries for macrolides and nitroimidazoles, while PLE was more suitable for fluoroquinolones and ionophores (i.e. monensin). The use of citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, in combination with methanol for PLE and with acetonitrile for QuEChERS, provided the highest antibiotic recoveries for both methods. The use of EDTA did not increase antibiotic recovery rates for QuEChERS, while the temperature had almost no influence on the extraction efficiency in PLE. • Citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 provided higher antibiotic recoveries for QuEChERS and PLE. • The combination buffer-methanol provided higher recoveries for PLE. • QuEChERS and PLE methods were able to extract most of the target antibiotics.

Science of The Total Environment, 2018

The fate and transport of 34 veterinary pharmaceuticals (PhACs) is investigated in swine slurry a... more The fate and transport of 34 veterinary pharmaceuticals (PhACs) is investigated in swine slurry and dairy cattle manure-amended agricultural soils, from an experimental field site, by using both analytical and modelled data. Potential differences on PhACs fate, attributed to the application of distinct swine slurry fractions (total, solid, and liquid), are herein assessed for the first time. Surface and deep soil layers, up to a depth of 120 cm, were analyzed at different periods after an annual fertilization event. Using input data representing typical agricultural soil conditions and the PhACs concentration measured in organic fertilizers the transport of these pollutants was modelled for a period of 10 years, including the monitored annual fertilization event. Fluoroquinolone, tetracycline and pleuromutilin antibiotics, together with anti-helmintics and analgesic and anti-inflammatories, were detected in manure-amended soils, at average concentrations ranging from 0.078 to 150 µg/kg dw in surface layers, with the highest levels found in the fields fertilized with the swine slurry solid fraction. Even though severe disagreements were observed between experimental and simulated PhACs concentrations along the soil column, both approaches pointed out that target compounds strongly adsorb onto surface layers, showing limited mobility along the soil profile. Thus, repeated manure and slurry fertilizations will contribute in building up persistent PhACs residues in the uppermost layers of the soil, while leaching will be a minor process governing their fate towards the subsurface. The ecotoxicological risks posed by the occurrence of PhACs in soils were estimated to be low for terrestrial organisms. Nevertheless the antibiotic enrofloxacin showed some potential to induce negative effects to crops.

Science of The Total Environment, 2018

Hydrogeological, chemical, and isotopic data assess antibiotic pollution in groundwater. • Most f... more Hydrogeological, chemical, and isotopic data assess antibiotic pollution in groundwater. • Most frequent antibiotics are sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. • A lack of spatial correlation exists for antibiotic occurrence, yet not for nitrate. • Fate of antibiotics in groundwater not only depend on chemical properties but on hydrogeology.