Direct injection method for HPLC/MS/MS analysis of acrylamide in aqueous solutions: application to adsorption experiments

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 May;22(9):6414-22. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-3774-y. Epub 2014 Nov 13.

Abstract

Polyacrylamides are polymers used in many fields and represent the main source of release of the highly toxic acrylamide in the environment. In this work, a simple, rapid, and sensitive analytical method was developed with HPLC/MS/MS and direct injection for acrylamide analysis in water and adsorption samples. AFNOR standards NF T90-210 and NF T90-220 were used for the analytical method validation and uncertainty estimation. Limit of quantification (LOQ) for acrylamide was 1 μg/L, and accuracy was checked at three acrylamide levels (1, 6, and 10 μg/L). Uncertainties were estimated at 34.2, 22, and 12.4 % for acrylamide concentrations at LOQ, 6 μg/L, and 10 μg/L, respectively. Acrylamide adsorption on clays (kaolinite, illite) and sludge was then studied as a function of pH, time, and acrylamide concentrations. Acrylamide adsorption on kaolinite, illite, and sludge was found to be very weak since adsorption percentages were inferior to 10 %, whatever the pH value and the initial acrylamide concentration. The low affinity of acrylamide for clays and sludge is likely due to its hydrophilic property, small size, and charge neutrality.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamide / analysis*
  • Acrylamide / chemistry
  • Adsorption
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Kaolin / chemistry
  • Minerals / chemistry
  • Mining
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Minerals
  • Water
  • illite
  • Acrylamide
  • Kaolin