Page 3 - Application Notebook - PFAS Analysis

WHITE Ultra-fast LC-MS/MS Analysis of PFAS in

PAPER Environmental Samples

There is increasing concern about the persistence and effects of Per- and
Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in the environment. This white paper
summarizes the state-of-the-art analytical methods for monitoring PFAS and
demonstrates the use, speed and performance of Shimadzu Ultra-fast Mass
Spectrometry (UFMS) for PFAS analysis in environmental waters. The described
method consists of a simple methanol dilution, followed by a direct injection to LC-
MS/MS. The Triple Quadrupole MS, LCMS-8060, was used in this study to
effectively separate and quantify 49 PFAS, with all compounds eluting within 13
minutes. The stability of PFAS and the effect of solvents, vials and vortex on the
recovery were studied. Method detection limit of 0.6 – 5.4 ng/L, recovery of
84 – 113% and calibration range of 5 – 200 ng/L were achieved for 94% of the
PFAS compounds studied, including all the compounds listed in ASTM D7979.
With high scan speed and short dwell time, the Shimadzu LCMS-8060
demonstrates to be fast, sensitive, and robust for PFAS analysis in environmental
waters.

Keywords:
Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances, PFAS, Perfluorinated compounds,
PFCs, Environmental, Surface Water, Non-Potable Water, Groundwater,
Wastewater, PFOA, PFOS, Persistent Organic Pollutants, POPs

Introduction

 Increasing Need to Monitor PFAS

Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic
Water and chemicals that are highly stable and resistant to degradation. These chemicals are
Environmental manufactured and used in many consumer and industrial products (e.g. food
Analysis packaging materials, fire-fighting foams and textiles) due to their heat-resistant and
oil- and water-repellent properties. As these PFAS compounds are persistent, toxic
LCMS and potentially harmful to humans [1], [2], [3], the leaching and presence of PFAS

https://www.shimadzu.com/an in our environment have raised serious concerns globally.
Exposure to PFAS through drinking water and various environmental sources has
Publish Date: been studied and determined [4], [5], [6], [7]. In May 2016, the United States
10 January 2019
Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued a health advisory of 70 parts
Authors: per trillion (ppt) for combined PFOA and PFOS in drinking water [8]. Several states
Brahm Prakash , Cindy Lee , in the US (e.g. California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts,
1
2
Gerard Byrne , Tairo Ogura 1
1
Vermont and Michigan) have followed the advisory and established similar or even
1 Shimadzu Scientific
Instruments, USA. stricter guideline levels for PFAS, which can go to 13-14 ppt [9], [10] [11]. Recent
2 Marketing Innovation Centre,
Singapore. research has suggested that occurrence of PFAS compounds in tap water is
markedly different by region [12] and around the world [13]. Growing evidence
highlights the obvious need to continuously monitor the water sources as well as
drinking water to keep PFAS exposure under control.