Analysis of trace contaminants by LC-MS/MS for the Clean Water Technology Laboratory

Researchers in the Centre for Water Resources Studies at Dalhousie University are active in drinking water and wastewater research. To support their growing research program, the team is requesting funding for a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). This critical research tool would be used to support 7 faculty members and would contribute to training and student theses for over 50 graduate students over the next 5 years. Specifically, this instrument would be used for advanced water quality analysis in four different research areas: (1) Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products. The team has been active in publishing in this area but current technology limits analysis to a small fraction of potential compounds. (2) Nitrogen-Containing Organic Matter. Our research team is interested in developing the use of amino acids as a supplement for drinking water biofiltration and also understanding the formation of harmful nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs), which are unregulated in Canada. (3) Algal Toxins and Taste & Odour Compounds. Climate change and population growth are leading to increased algal blooms in surface waters, which can lead to the production of harmful algal toxins, such as those experienced in Lake Erie in 2014. LC-MS/MS would enable the detection of these algal toxins and provide an expanded research program to meet industry partner needs. (4) Industrial Waste Management. The research team has supported several oil & gas and industrial waste stabilization projects. An LC-MS/MS would enable research on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and associated intermediates in more complex matrices. In summary, the incorporation of LC-MS/MS would complement and enhance the Water Studies group by providing a new sensitive analytical tool, which would ensure that the research team remains at the forefront of academic and industrial research activities.