Mixed-Mode SPE Used in Analysis of Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater

Researchers from Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden) and Nankai University (Tianjin, China) used a serial mixed-mode cation-exchange and anion-exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) method to extract 15 basic, neutral, and acidic pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater. Separate mixed-mode cation- and anion-exchange columns were used in series. They used high performance liquid chromatography with quadropole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze the extracted compounds. The recovery for the SPE method in the analysis of sewage treatment plant wastewater averaged 80%.