Page 15 - Application Notebook - PFAS Analysis

LAAN-A-LM-E154B

Application Water Analysis / LCMS

News Analysis of PFAS Specified in EPA Method 537 and

Beyond using Shimadzu UFMS™

No. C184 Brahm Prakash , Gerard Byrne , Tairo Ogura , Cindy Lee , Masaki Yamada 3
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Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, USA., Marketing Innovation Centre, Singapore,
Global Application Development Center, Japan.
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 Abstract coatings because of their heat-resistant, and oil- and
water-repellent properties. These properties result in
This application news demonstrates the use, resistance to degradation, hence, PFAS accumulate in
performance and compatibility of Shimadzu Ultra-fast the environment. Moreover, PFAS are capable of long-
Mass Spectrometry (UFMS™) for EPA Method 537 range transport and can potentially affect human health
with an expanded compound panel of seven additional (e.g. developmental and reproductive effects).
PFAS. A total of 27 PFAS compounds were extracted,
separated and detected with triple quadrupole mass Over the past several years, the issue of PFAS
spectrometers, LCMS-8045 and LCMS-8050. contamination in drinking water has become a global
Recoveries of 86–106% (LCMS-8050) and 77–104% concern. To safeguard public health and minimize
(LCMS-8045) were well within the limits outlined in human exposure to these chemicals, the US, EU and
EPA 537. Method detection limits of 0.7–1.7 ng/L (ppt) Australia have issued health advisory guidelines for
(LCMS-8050) and 0.7–3.3 ng/L (LCMS-8045) were perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane-
obtained and both systems fulfilled all of the EPA’s sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water (e.g. US: 70 ppt
requirements for PFAS analysis in drinking water. for combined PFOS and PFOA). Furthermore, some
states in the US (e.g. California, Minnesota, Colorado,
Keywords: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances, Michigan and New Jersey) have established similar or
PFAS, Perfluorinated Compounds, PFCs, Drinking even stricter limits for PFAS and these can go as low
Water, PFOA, PFOS, Persistent Organic Pollutants, as 13 ppt and 14 ppt for PFOS and PFOA respectively.
POPs
US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has
 Introduction established Method 537 for PFAS in drinking water. It
utilizes a solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by
Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) are liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-
a group of anthropogenic chemicals widely used as fire MS/MS) for the determination of 14 perfluorinated alkyl
retardants, food packaging materials, and non-stick acids in drinking water. Besides the analysis of these

Figure 1. MRM (pink and blue) and TIC (black) chromatograms of all PFAS in a mixed standard solution with each PFAS
at 20 ng/mL (LCMS-8050)