DoE-LC-HRMS Strategy Tracks Water Contaminants
Massimo Del Bubba and Lapo Renai tell LCGC International how liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) combined with a design of experiments (DoE) strategy enhances proactive monitoring of trace chemicals of environmental concern (CECs) to support drinking water safety and quality.
Human activity leads to the presence of trace "chemicals of environmental concern" (CECs), such as pesticides, antibiotics, and personal care products, in raw water sources. To ensure high drinking water quality and proactively safeguard public health, water utilities and academic research groups continually refine advanced analytical methodologies. While targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) testing captures known contaminants, it misses much of the full chemical picture. Non-targeted analysis using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) offers broader detection but requires better strategies to prioritize meaningful signals over background noise.