A LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 17 opioids in biosolids

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biosolids from wastewater treatment plants are utilized as agricultural fertilizer, promoting sustainability and waste reuse.
• Despite treatment, biosolids retain household chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, posing environmental risks.
• Pharmaceuticals, particularly opioids, are detected in biosolids, with potential plant uptake and ecological consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and efficient method for extracting opioids from solid biosolids.
• To quantify opioid contamination in biosolids intended for agricultural application.
• To address the growing concern of opioid contamination in the environment due to the opioid pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A sonication-assisted liquid-liquid extraction technique was developed for opioid extraction from biosolids.
• Ethyl acetate was used as the solvent for extraction, followed by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis.
• Optimization involved comparing sodium chloride and potassium chloride, as well as acidic and alkaline conditions, with the best results achieved using NaCl at pH 12.

Main Results:

• The optimized method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² > 0.987) for 17 opioids.
• Matrix effects ranged from 86-113%, and limits of detection were between 0.1-10 μg/kg.
• Fourteen different opioids were detected in agricultural biosolids, with concentrations ranging from 1-289 μg/kg.

Conclusions:

• A validated, efficient method for opioid extraction from biosolids was successfully developed.
• Opioid contamination is prevalent in biosolids used for agriculture, indicating a significant environmental exposure pathway.
• This method provides a crucial tool for monitoring and assessing opioid levels in biosolids, informing environmental risk management strategies.