Use of volatile amines as ion-pairing agents for the high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric determination of aromatic sulfonates in industrial wastewater.

The use of trialkylamines (triethylamine, N,N-dimethyl-n-butylamine, and tri-n-butylamine) as volatile ion-pairing agents for the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of aromatic sulfonates was investigated. Negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect both singly and multiply charged analyte ions. Sensitivity of detection was strongly reduced by amine concentrations above 2.5 mmol l(-1) in the eluent. With tributylamine as ion-pairing agent 19 aromatic sulfonic acids could be determined using time-scheduled selected reaction monitoring. Lowest orders of detection range from 3 to 74 microgl(-1). Several naphthalenesulfonic acids were determined in dyeing baths and textile wastewater in concentrations ranging from 0.1 mgl(-1) to 2.1 mgl(-1). A degradation product of sulfonated azodyes was identified in the effluent of a laboratory treatment plant.