Separation strategies for environmental analysis

The CE determination of broad classes of atmospheric pollutants and water and soil contaminants has been reviewed regularly. This chapter focuses on separation strategies for environmental analysis involving the two most commonly used CE modes capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and electrokinetic chromatography (EKC). 

On the basis of the diversity of applications presented in this chapter, it becomes clear that CE has found a niche among separation techniques for environmental analysis. Future directions will likely include refinement of preconcentration strategies and further detector improvements to achieve the desirable low-concentration limits of detection. In addition, with the consolidation of CE-MS technology, more robust methods are likely to emerge with enhanced sensitivity and superior selectivity, improving further the acceptance of CE in the routine determination of pollutants in real samples. 

Abstract This chapter gives an overview of strategies used in the identification and analysis of environmental transformation products of three important groups of synthetic chemicals pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. The characteristics and features of modern mass spectrometric instrumentation coupled to liquid chromatographic separation techniques as well as complementary techniques are presented and examples of their application to the characterization of transformation products of synthetic chemicals are described. Analytical methodologies for the quantitative analysis of the intact parent compounds and their transformation products in the environment are compiled. 

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