Efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction, UPLC-MS/MS detection, and consumption assessment of five trace psychoactive substances.

A magnetic shrimp shell biochar-based adsorbent was synthesized and used to extract trace psychoactive substances from municipal wastewater. The adsorbent showed good pH stability, anti-interference properties, fast magnetic separation, reusability, and reproducibility. A method combining magnetic solid-phase extraction with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for quantifying five psychoactive substances in real wastewater samples. The method achieved low detection limits (1.00-4.75 ng/L) and high precision. Applying the method to wastewater from Chongqing revealed that methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine were the prevalent illegal drugs. MDMA concentrations and per capita consumption changed between July and September, but no weekly differences were observed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has become an objective and updated surveillance strategy for monitoring and estimating consumption trends of psychoactive substances (PSs) in the population. Firstly, magnetic shrimp shell biochar-based adsorbent (DZMBC) was synthesized and employed for extraction trace PSs from municipal wastewater. Proper pyrolysis temperature and increased KOH activator content favored the pore structure and surface area, thus facilitating extraction. DZMBC delivered exceptional extraction performance such as pH stability, anti-interference property, fast magnetic separation ability, reusability, and reproducibility. Then, a method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed, validated, and utilized for the quantitative determination of five PSs in real wastewater samples. Methodological validation results indicated a favorable linearity, low method limits of detection (1.00-4.75 ng/L), and good precisions (intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations < 4.8%). Finally, an objective snapshot of Chongqing drug use and consumption pattern was obtained. Methamphetamine (MAMP) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) were the prevalent illegal drugs in local. Both concentrations and per capita consumption of MDMA displayed a change (P < 0.05) between July and September, while no statistical differences were observed for each week.