Page 32 - Application Notebook - PFAS Analysis

No. SSI-LCMS-106

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
(PFAS) Specified in EPA M8327 using the LCMS-8050
Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Brahm Prakash, Gerard Byrne II, Ruth Marfil-Vega, Yuka Fujito, Christopher Gilles
No. LCMS-106 Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc., Columbia, MD 21046

■ Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has Research into the adverse health effects 2-6 of PFAS in
recently published draft SW-846 Method 8327 for humans is ongoing. Many studies have linked PFOA
the analysis of PFAS in groundwater, surface water, and PFOS to reproductive damage, liver and kidney
and wastewater. No other EPA method for PFAS damage, and weakened immune systems. PFAS
analysis in complex matrices was available; hence, exposure has also been linked to elevated cholesterol
this method in its final version will provide a tool for levels.
monitoring selected PFAS in non-potable waters. This
application note demonstrates that the LCMS-8050 This application note provides a fast and robust
meets and exceeds the Quality Assurance and solution based on the use of Shimadzu LCMS-8050
Quality Control criteria specified in the method. All for all analytes listed in EPA Method 8327. Results
analytes were reliably quantitated at or less than 5 demonstrate that the instrument’s performance
ppt. Ultimately, this work provides a fast and robust exceeds the requirements outlined in the draft EPA
solution for addressing the challenges in the method. Most importantly, the results confirm that
quantitation of low levels of PFAS in non-potable laboratories currently analyzing samples by ASTM
waters. Method D7979 7-8 using Ultra-fast LC-MS/MS
(UFMS™) Analysis of PFAS in environmental samples
■ Background can easily update their workflow to implement EPA
Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) are Method 8327.
a group of anthropogenic chemicals widely used in
consumer products (e.g. food packaging materials Keywords: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances,
and non-stick coatings) and industrial applications PFAS, Perfluorinated Compounds, PFCs, PFOA, PFOS,
(firefighting foams, polymers/plastics manufacturing). Persistent Organic Pollutants, POPs, Triple Quad,
Their unique properties, such as being highly stable Wastewater, Ground Water, Surface Water, EPA
1
and resistant to degradation , together with their Method 8327, ASTM D7979
ubiquitous use has resulted in the accumulation of
PFAS in the environment. ■ Analyte List
EPA Method 8327 analyzes 24 target PFAS
The PFAS family encompasses over 4,000 chemicals, compounds and 19 surrogates in reagent, ground,
with the commonality of having a per- or poly- surface, and wastewater. Target compounds and
fluorinated carbon backbone compounds. Due to their respective acronyms, surrogate compounds,
their potential deleterious effects on humans and and their chemical classes are listed in Table 1. For
ecosystems, PFOA and PFOS are no longer the remainder of this application note, refer to the
manufactured in the US; this has resulted in the acronyms in Table 1.
introduction of replacement chemicals. There is a
need of robust and fast analytical methods to ensure
accurate quantitation of low levels (in low ng/L
range) of legacy and replacement PFAS entering the
environment and there are concerns about their
effects on humans and ecosystems as well as the
compounds ability to repel oil and water.