Meeting the requirements of US and European water standards

Importance of Topic

Ensuring the quality of rivers, lakes and drinking-water sources is critical for ecosystem health and human safety. Regulatory bodies in the US (EPA) and Europe (EU WFD) have established strict limits on known and emerging water pollutants, including haloacetic acids, semivolatile organics, air-toxics, oxygenated VOCs and per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Effective monitoring requires sensitive, high-throughput analytical solutions that meet or exceed these standards while minimizing sample preparation time and operational costs.

Goals and Overview

This collection of application notes and white-paper chapters presents four advanced analytical workflows developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific and collaborators to address key regulatory methods:

• Rapid IC-MS/MS determination of nine haloacetic acids (9HAA) in drinking water compliant with US EPA 557 and EU proposals.
• Optimized GC-MS analysis of semivolatiles (SVOCs) per US EPA 8270D using the ISQ 7000 with Helium Saver to cover 0.2–200 ppm.
• Cryogen-free two-dimensional GC-MS/FID monitoring of PAMS ozone precursors, TO-15 air toxics and oxygenated VOCs in ambient air using CIA Advantage-xr, Kori-xr, UNITY-xr and ISQ 7000.
• LC–Orbitrap HRAM screening and quantitation of six PFASs in drinking water per EPA Method 537, compared to traditional triple-quad SRM.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• IC-MS/MS: Reagent-free IC with Electrolytically Generated KOH gradient on Dionex IonPac AS31, electrolytic suppressor (ADRS), direct injection, Q Exactive HF-X Orbitrap targeted SIM.
• GC-MS 8270D: TRACE 1310 GC, ISQ 7000 single quadrupole with NeverVent, ExtractaBrite source, Instant Connect Helium Saver injector, TraceGOLD TG-5MS column.
• Cryogen-free TD-GC-MS/FID: CIA Advantage-xr canister autosampler (0.5 mL loop/MFC), Dry-Focus3 water removal (Kori-xr), UNITY-xr focusing trap, microfluidic Deans Switch 2D-GC, ISQ 7000 AEI source, dual FID/MS.
• LC–Orbitrap: UltiMate 3000 RS UHPLC, Hypersil GOLD aQ column, Q Exactive MS in full-scan (70 k FWHM) and PRM (35 k FWHM) modes, SolEx HRPHS SPE, Trizma® buffer sample prep.

Main Results and Discussion

• IC-MS/MS HAA: 9HAA separation in <35 min, LOD<1 µg/L in presence of high Cl-, SO4-, HCO3-Ions; met EPA 557 validation criteria.
• GC-MS SVOCs: 0.2–200 ppm linear range with <20% RSD for >90% of 76 targets; Helium Saver reduced He consumption by >90%; NeverVent cut maintenance downtime by ~98%.
• Cryogen-free VOCs: Simultaneous analysis of 117 compounds in 52 min, solvent-free sample prep, 100% RH tolerance, retention-time RSD<0.05%, carryover <0.15%, full automation for 27 samples.
• LC–Orbitrap PFAS: Full-scan quantitation at sub-ppt levels comparable to SRM; LCMRLs equal or better than EPA 537; mass accuracy <3 ppm, spectral library matching and isotopic pattern confirmation ensure robust identification of known and emerging PFASs.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Simplified workflows: elimination of derivatization, cryogens, and dual-platform protocols.
• High throughput: sample-to-sample cycle <60 min, extended unattended operation.
• Improved uptime and cost savings: cryogen-free operation, reduced He use, rapid maintenance via NeverVent/V-lock.
• Enhanced selectivity and sensitivity: HRAM full-scan enables simultaneous screening of non-target analytes and retrospective data mining.
• Regulatory compliance: validated against US EPA and EU WFD requirements for water and air monitoring.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Integration of high-resolution screening with non-targeted analysis for emergent contaminants.
• Automation of multi-matrix sampling (water, air, soil) on unified platforms.
• Expansion of spectral libraries and AI-driven data interpretation for unknowns.
• Development of continuous, online monitoring networks leveraging cryogen-free TD-GC or direct sensing.

Conclusion

The described analytical strategies demonstrate how modern chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms—combined with reagent-free eluents, cryogen-free sampling and advanced data acquisition—can meet stringent regulatory standards for known contaminants while enabling robust screening for emerging threats. These solutions maximize laboratory productivity, reduce operational costs, and future-proof environmental monitoring workflows.

Reference

1. US EPA Method 557 & 537, Compendium Methods, EPA.
2. US EPA Method 8270D SW-846.
3. US EPA TO-15 & TO-11A, Compendium of Methods for Ambient Air.
4. EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
5. Right2Water Initiative Proposal (COM 2017/0753).