for widespread sensor applications. Biotechnological approaches involving microbial biosensors play a vital role in the monitoring of pollutant present in an aqueous
system.
2 Chromatography Based Techniques for Pollutants
Detection
Chromatographic methods are reference analytical techniques for environmental
monitoring. Universal detectors such as UV or mass spectroscopy are applied which
possess the ability to detect multiple compounds simultaneously, providing high
sensitive and accurate measurements in the range of ng L
−1 . Numerous multiresidue
techniques for the analysis of a wide range of contaminants in environmental
samples have been reported in the last decade being most of these examples based on
the use of high resolution chromatographical techniques such as gas chromatography
[11], liquid chromatography [2], high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
[16] or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) [65]. Gas phase chromatography with fluorescence detection allows the selective determination of
hydrocarbon-based microplastics pollutants sampled from marine and freshwater
coastal sediments [10]. A novel Liquid chromatography-Mass spectroscopy based
technique was developed by Peng et al. [63] and authenticated for the determination
and detection of twenty drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals from potable water. The
developed method was based on the application of solid-phase extraction followed
by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five drugs of abuse and two pharmaceuticals were detected at the range of 0.14–2.81 ng/L, including cocaine,
ketamine, mephedrone, methamphetamine, methylone, citalopram and fluoxetine. In
a study reported in Canada, in potable water ketamine has also been reported at a
higher concentration of 15.0 ng/L [74]. A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants
with pyrrolidinium groups, 1,1-(butane-1,s-alkyl) bis (1-alkylpyrrolidinium), were
employed as carriers in sweeping–micellar electrokinetic chromatography for
simultaneous detection of nine organic water pollutants, including polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfonamides and steroids [82].
Kim et al. [50] developed a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe
(QuEChERS) extraction method for pesticide analysis which has substituted less
efficient traditional extraction methods due to its numerous advantages. In addition
to pesticide analysis, this method has been widely used for the detection and
analysis of pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and several persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, perfluoroalkyl substances, and brominated flame retardants in food, biological, and
environmental samples. These approaches include dispersive solid phase extraction
and have generally been pooled with either gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
(GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis.
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R. Khan et al.
system.
2 Chromatography Based Techniques for Pollutants
Detection
Chromatographic methods are reference analytical techniques for environmental
monitoring. Universal detectors such as UV or mass spectroscopy are applied which
possess the ability to detect multiple compounds simultaneously, providing high
sensitive and accurate measurements in the range of ng L
−1 . Numerous multiresidue
techniques for the analysis of a wide range of contaminants in environmental
samples have been reported in the last decade being most of these examples based on
the use of high resolution chromatographical techniques such as gas chromatography
[11], liquid chromatography [2], high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
[16] or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) [65]. Gas phase chromatography with fluorescence detection allows the selective determination of
hydrocarbon-based microplastics pollutants sampled from marine and freshwater
coastal sediments [10]. A novel Liquid chromatography-Mass spectroscopy based
technique was developed by Peng et al. [63] and authenticated for the determination
and detection of twenty drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals from potable water. The
developed method was based on the application of solid-phase extraction followed
by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five drugs of abuse and two pharmaceuticals were detected at the range of 0.14–2.81 ng/L, including cocaine,
ketamine, mephedrone, methamphetamine, methylone, citalopram and fluoxetine. In
a study reported in Canada, in potable water ketamine has also been reported at a
higher concentration of 15.0 ng/L [74]. A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants
with pyrrolidinium groups, 1,1-(butane-1,s-alkyl) bis (1-alkylpyrrolidinium), were
employed as carriers in sweeping–micellar electrokinetic chromatography for
simultaneous detection of nine organic water pollutants, including polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfonamides and steroids [82].
Kim et al. [50] developed a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe
(QuEChERS) extraction method for pesticide analysis which has substituted less
efficient traditional extraction methods due to its numerous advantages. In addition
to pesticide analysis, this method has been widely used for the detection and
analysis of pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and several persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, perfluoroalkyl substances, and brominated flame retardants in food, biological, and
environmental samples. These approaches include dispersive solid phase extraction
and have generally been pooled with either gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
(GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis.
258
R. Khan et al.