Illicit drugs in wastewater: chirality and other under-investigated phenomena

The aim of talk is to discuss recent developments in the analysis of illicit drugs in wastewater. The talk will consist of three sections:
1. Targeted analysis of >60 illicit, abused drugs and their metabolites in wastewater with the usage of multi-residue solid-phase extraction–ultra performance reversed phase liquid chromatography–positive electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry, triple quadrupole (SPE–RPLC–QqQ) method. The results from the analysis of samples from the UK will be presented. Particular emphasis will be put on possible analytical pitfalls.
2. First comprehensive targeted analysis of illicit and abused drugs on suspended particulate matter in wastewater with the usage of a combination of pressurised liquid extraction, solid phase extraction and reversed phase liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using triple quadrupole (PLE-SPE-RPLC–QqQ).
3. First enantiomeric profiling of chiral drugs in wastewater using multi-residue solid-phase extraction–chiral liquid chromatography–positive electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry using triple quadrupole (SPE–chiral LC–QqQ) and quadrupole-time-of-flight (SPE-chiral LC-QTOF) method. Results from both field study and laboratory microcosm bioreactors will be presented.

The main emphasis will be put on under-investigated aspects of the analysis of drugs in wastewater with an aim of providing reliable estimation of community-wide drug use. They include, among others, stability of illicit and abused drugs, their sorption to solids and their stereoselective fate in humans and in wastewater. The emphasis will be put on chiral analysis, which provides for a distinction between consumption and direct disposal of chiral drugs to wastewater.