Abstract
An analytical method has been developed which allows the determination of 22 different neutral and weakly basic drugs belonging to several different medicinal classes like antiphlogistics, betablockers, β2-sympathomimetics, lipid regulators, antiepileptic agents, psychiatric drugs and vasodilators in waste water as well as in river and drinking water. A method including solid phase extraction, derivatization by silylation and detection by GC/MS permits detection down to 5 ng/L. The recovery rates mostly exceeded 70%. However, the determination of phenazone, carbamazepine, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and pentoxiphylline is frequently disturbed by organic co-extractants in real samples of rivers and waste waters. Therefore, a time saving alternative method has been developed, combining solid phase extraction (as an enrichment step) together with detection by LC-electrospray/MS/MS allowing the measurement of 5 neutral drugs. Detection limits down to 10 ng/L have been achieved even for organically highly contaminated waters like sewage treatment plant effluents.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 18 November 1997 / Revised: 18 March 1998 / Accepted: 21 March 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ternes, T., Hirsch, R., Mueller, J. et al. Methods for the determination of neutral drugs as well as betablockers and β2-sympathomimetics in aqueous matrices using GC/MS and LC/MS/MS. Fresenius J Anal Chem 362, 329–340 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160051083
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160051083