Application of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to nuclear magnetic resonance and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to complex environmental samples

HPLC-H-1 NMR in combination with HPLC-MS is particularly suited to the identification of unknown polar, non-volatile compounds in complex environmental samples, i.e. to non-target analysis of such samples, if pollutants are present in the ppb range. Both methods give complementary structural information. Optimum information on unknowns is gained if both techniques are coupled on-line. This review discusses general aspects of the application of HPLC-NMR and HPLC-MS to environmental samples and compares the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. The potential of the combined application of these hyphenated techniques to environmental samples is illustrated with contaminated ground water from a former ammunition plant, leachate from industrial waste disposal sites and waste water from a textile company as examples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.