Thermo Scientific Water Analysis - Compliance and Workflows European Water Framework Directive

Significance of the Topic

Monitoring trace-level pollutants in water and biota is essential to protect aquatic ecosystems and human health. Even at extremely low concentrations, industrial chemicals can accumulate in organisms and disrupt environmental balance. The EU Directive 2013/39/EU sets Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) and requires systematic monitoring of priority substances to ensure compliance and safeguard resources.

Objectives and Study Overview

This document reviews analytical workflows for water analysis under the EU Directive 2013/39/EU. It outlines the list of priority and watch-list contaminants, recommends methods for sample preparation, separation, and detection, and highlights Thermo Scientific solutions covering the full workflow from extraction to data reporting.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation Techniques

• Solid Phase Extraction (SPE): manual or automated using Dionex AutoTrace 280 for large-volume water samples.
• Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE): Thermo Scientific Dionex ASE 350 for solid/semi-solid matrices under elevated temperature and pressure.
• Online Clean-Up: Turbulent Flow Technology for direct LC-MS analysis of complex matrices.
• EQuan MAX Plus System: high-throughput online SPE-LC-MS for rapid water screening.

Separation and Detection

• Gas Chromatography: TriPlus RSH autosampler with TRACE 1300/1310 GC, headspace, split/splitless or programmable temperature vaporization injectors.
• GC-MS/MS: ISQ single quadrupole, TSQ series triple quadrupole, DFS GC-HRMS for dioxins and BFRs.
• Liquid Chromatography: UltiMate 3000 UHPLC for multi-residue analysis of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and PFOS.
• LC-MS/MS and HRMS: TSQ Endura and Quantiva triple quadrupole MS, Exactive Plus and Q Exactive Orbitrap for targeted and non-targeted screening.
• Trace Element Analysis: iCAP Q ICP-MS, iCAP 7000 ICP-OES, iCE 3500 GF-AAS for metals down to ppq–ppm range.

Software Solutions

• TraceFinder: integrated workflow for routine quantitation and qualitative screening across GC and LC platforms.
• Chromeleon 7.2 CDS: unified control and data processing for chromatography and mass spectrometry in an enterprise environment.

Main Results and Discussion

Optimized workflows achieve detection limits from low ng/L to sub-ppt levels. GC-MS/MS chromatograms demonstrate reliable quantitation of organotins at 2 ng/mL. LC-APCI-MS/MS detects 17β-estradiol at 350 pg/L in various water matrices. ICP-MS and ICP-OES configurations cover multi-elemental analysis from ppq to ppm with short analysis times. Combined targeted and non-targeted high-resolution MS enables comprehensive screening in a single run.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The integrated analytical pipeline offers

• High sensitivity and selectivity across diverse contaminant classes.
• Automated sample preparation to reduce solvent use and labor.
• End-to-end compliance with EU directives for water and biota monitoring.
• Rapid throughput with online extraction and multiplexing capabilities.
• Robust data management and reporting for routine QA/QC and research.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include expansion of non-targeted screening with HRMS, AI-driven data interpretation, miniaturized and field-deployable sample-prep modules, green solvent applications, and integration with remote sensing. Advancements in automation and software will further enhance throughput and data quality, supporting evolving regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

A comprehensive suite of sample preparation, separation, detection, and data processing tools meets the challenges of monitoring priority and emerging contaminants under Directive 2013/39/EU. Thermo Scientific’s integrated solutions deliver the sensitivity, robustness, and efficiency required for modern environmental analysis.

References

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7. Valsecchi S. et al. Optimization of on-line SPE-UHPLC/MS/MS for perfluoroalkyl acids in Italian waters. SETAC Glasgow 2013.
8. Thermo Scientific Application Note 52389: GC-MS/MS Analysis of OCPs, PAHs, PCBs.
9. Technical Note 10319: Simplifying Multi-Residue Pesticide Methodology in GC-MS/MS.
10. Technical Note 52099: Determination of Organotins in Water using GC-MS/MS.
11. Application Note 30098: DFS Analysis of Brominated Flame Retardants with GC-HRMS.
12. Application Note 43098: Speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in drinking waters using IEC-ICP-MS.