Holistic and detailed view on workflow strategies applied in this book

A final view on the analytical workflow strategies in this book revealed clear trends and common solutions in the identification and also quantification of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) and associated transformation products (TPs). Although the questions asked, needs, tasks and motivations are very diverse while analyzing CECs and TPs in the aqueous environment, they reflect similar foci regarding the analytical LC-MS techniques used. LC-MS workflow strategies can be differentiated into the analysis of targets, suspects, hidden targets and unknowns. Several workflows make thereby use of the same sequence of working processes: a) the initial sampling and analysis that results in experimental data; b) experimental data is subsequently preprocessed which leads to specific datasets; c) the datasets can then -according to their specific focus- be used in the direction of quantitative (target) analysis, compound recognition (by suspects screening), compound finding (by hidden target screening) or the identification of unknowns. Various strategies are supported by vendor software and open access tools. This concluding chapter attempts to derive a holistic view through a systematic analysis of strategies in environmental analysis as well as strategies applied in other disciplines.