GEUS wants to buy a UHPLC-HRMS apparatus with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The purpose is to allow GEUS to use the UHPLC-IMS-HRMS method for analysis of groundwater samples to contribute to a paradigm shift within our approach to and knowledge of the presence of organic pollutants in groundwater. An important result of the implementation of the method will thus be to create increased knowledge about which foreign substances are found in the groundwater in Denmark.
GEUS wants to buy a UHPLC-HRMS apparatus with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The purpose is to allow GEUS to use the UHPLC-IMS-HRMS method for analysis of groundwater samples to contribute to a paradigm shift within our approach to and knowledge of the occurrence of organic pollutants in groundwater. An important result of the implementation of the method will thus be to create increased knowledge about which foreign substances are found in the groundwater in Denmark.
Furthermore, it is intended that the method should be developed in the longer term, so that when analyzing a water sample, it can be qualitatively screened for which organic pollutants (pesticides, perfluorinated compounds, organic micro-pollutants, natural toxins, drug residues, etc.) found in the water sample. Subsequently, on the basis of occurrences, quantitative analysis of the contamination components for which reference standards exist for the quantitative analysis methods used so far can be performed.
GEUS wants to be able to identify both parent substances as well as known and as yet unknown degradation products found in any water sample. This gives increased opportunity to act in relation to pollutants compared to so far. A successfully implemented method will include: could be used to ensure that groundwater contaminants, such as the recently recognized contaminants with DMS and DPC, are detected earlier. It is our expectation that particularly similar small polar molecules may pose a risk of contamination of the groundwater, which is why the apparatus procured should be able to detect such molecules as far as possible.
Specifically, we see implementation of the method as an important tool in assessing the formation of degradation products under Danish geological and climatic conditions. This knowledge allows GEUS to determine the degradation products' risk of leaching to the groundwater. An important aspect is the method's possibility of retrospective data analysis in relation to the evolution of the occurrence of pollution over time. This could, among other things, target prioritization of quantitative analyzes in VAP, GRUMO, drilling control and pollution studies, as well as strengthen the approval scheme in terms of. VAP data basis.
The selection of quantitative analyzes will be prioritized based on UHPLC-IMS-HRMS data on the basis of real occurrences of contamination components in a given water sample rather than today on set-case scenarios. In the long term, socio-economic gains in quantitative analyzes are expected, since substances that are not relevant in a given context can be prioritized. GEUS expects a large annual flow of water samples and therefore wants the purchased equipment and accompanying software to support this need, with the possibility of short analysis times and adequate software workflow solutions.
In general, with the acquisition GEUS intends to strengthen the efforts in all future research in environmental substances in the groundwater, as well as pesticide conversion in the soil and aquatic environment, preferably in collaboration with other research institutions and other collaborators.