QuEChERS: a simple extraction for monitoring quaternary ammonium biocide pollution in soils and antimicrobial resistance

Godfrey, A. R., Townsend, R., Desbrow, C. and Felion, C. (2020) QuEChERS: a simple extraction for monitoring quaternary ammonium biocide pollution in soils and antimicrobial resistance. Analytical Methods, 12(35), pp. 4387-4393. (doi: 10.1039/D0AY01324B) (PMID:32940267)

Abstract

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are broad-spectrum disinfectants used in a range of everyday materials. Their high usage rates, limited regulation and reporting has meant their environmental release is largely uncontrolled and impact unknown. With links to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and adsorption to wastewater solids (that are recycled), there is a need for more controlled disposal measures and monitoring. These environmental matrices are highly complex requiring methods that are often laborious and costly to undertake. Using a robust quantitative reversed-phase LC-MS/MS method, we have shown that an ‘off the shelf’ QuEChERS product can reliably extract (<10% RSD) aromatic and aliphatic QACs anticipated within municipal, industrial and agricultural waste from water and soil, with reduced matrix effects of 95.7–104.4% for recoveries of up to 53% from soil when combined with extract dilution. Therefore, unlike current literature, this work has shown that, with minimal development, the QuEChERS product can provide a rapid, effective and low cost preparation for quantifying QAC pollution and monitoring AMR.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Felion, Celeste Marie
• Authors: Godfrey, A. R., Townsend, R., Desbrow, C., and Felion, C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
• Journal Name: Analytical Methods
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 1759-9660
• ISSN (Online): 1759-9679
• Published Online: 28 August 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry
• First Published: First published in Analytical Methods 12(35): 4387-4393
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy