Advanced Chemical Analysis Capability for Alternative Water Source Research

Published Date:
September 2018

Authors:
T Schaub, J Jarvis, P Xu, N Khandan

Abstract:
Research projects that address non-traditional water source utilization and treatment in southern New Mexico require innovative analytical chemistry support to determine water source quality, to evaluate the efficacy of treatment technologies, and to monitor associated systems such as environmental discharge and food safety considerations. With the availability of two modern, ultrahigh resolution mass  pectrometers and all ancillary sample preparation equipment, the NMSU Chemical Analysis and Instrumentation Laboratory (CAIL) is a regionally unique resource for advanced chemical analysis. With this project, we have adapted CAIL’s state-of-the-art instrumentation capability to serve regional water research needs, specifically through the establishment of novel and robust characterization approaches for organic molecules in water based on high resolution mass spectrometry, including contaminants of emerging concern and their conversion products. Specific objectives are to improve instrument performance for wastewater applications (accomplished), identify and implement an appropriate mass spectral library search tool (accomplished), parametric selection (accomplished/in adaptation for various sample types and extractions), and implement appropriate extraction techniques (accomplished). This project established a new resource for water characterization at New Mexico State University, the utilization and optimization of which is now underway for specific applications.

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Keywords:
Wastewater analysis, contaminants of emerging concern, CECs, aqueous organics, wastewater treatment, mass spectrometry, chemical analysis