Simultaneous determination of quaternary phosphonium compounds and phosphine oxides in environmental water and solid samples by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

• A method based on UPLC-MS/MS was developed for the determination of 8 QPCs and 4 POs in environment. • This universal analytical method is available for varied environmental samples. • Real sample analysis indicated QPCs and POs were detected in each environmental samples. • QPCs were first tentatively detected in wastewater, sludge, and road dust. Quaternary phosphonium compounds (QPCs) and phosphine oxides (POs) are emerging contaminants that are attracting increasing attention. In the present study, a method for the quantification of QPCs and POs in multiple environmental media was developed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Analytes were extracted from water samples using solid phase extraction, and for the solid samples, ultrasonic extraction was employed. Compared with analytical methods established by previous studies, the approach developed in this study is more suitable for the quantitative analysis of compounds along with high sensitivity. The method quantification limit reached 0.12–2.55 ng⋅L–1 in water samples and 0.004–0.10 ng⋅g–1 in solid samples. The recoveries of target analytes spiked at low, medium and high concentrations in water and solid samples were in the range of 56.4–120 %, with relative standard deviations below 20 % (n = 6). Furthermore, the validated method succeeded in applying to analyse of eight QPCs and four POs in real environmental samples. At least five QPCs and two POs were detected in each environmental medium. This quantitative method would assist in further investigations on the occurrence, migration and the source of QPCs and POs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]