Analysis of Perfluorinated Acids at Parts-Per-Quadrillion Levels in Seawater Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) and their salts have emerged as an important class of global environmental contaminants. Determination of sub-parts-per-trillion or parts-per-quadrillion concentrations of perfluorinated acids in aqueous media has been impeded by relatively high background levels arising from procedural or instrumental blanks. To understand the role of the oceans in the transport and fate of perfluorinated acids, methods to determine ultratrace levels of these compounds in seawater are needed. In this study, sources of procedural and instrumental blank contamination by perfluorinated acids have been identified and eliminated, to reduce background levels in blanks and thereby improve limits of quantitation. The method developed in this study is capable of detecting perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS), perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) at low pg/L levels in oceanic waters. PFOA is the major perfluorinated compound detected in oceanic waters, followed by PFOS. Further studies are being conducted to elucidate the distribution and fate of perfluorinated acids in oceans.

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of fluoroalkyl sulfonates in riverine water by liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry

“…S2.A). The distinct retention behaviors associated with PFSA carbon-chain length have been universally reported for C18, HLB and WAX cartridges [28,35]. Nevertheless, satisfactory recoveries found in this study also suggest applicability of the SPE pretreatment for the emerging 6:2 Cl-PFAES chemical.…”

Potential exposure of perfluorinated compounds to Chinese in Shenyang and Yangtze River Delta areas

“…The details on removing various interferences were described elsewhere. [25] PP tubes that had been strictly examined for low PFC blanks were chosen. Procedure blank and travel blank for water were conducted, and concentrations of all target analytes in the procedure blank and travel blank were below their limit of quantification (LOQ) ( Table 1).…”

“…Detailed information about quality assurance and quality control have been previously described elsewhere. [20,21,25,26] Results and discussion Concentrations of PFCs in waters from the Shenyang area PFC concentrations in the surface waters (i.e. river water and channel waters) and shallow ground waters from the Shenyang area are shown in Table 2.…”

Perfluorinated compounds in the Pearl River and Yangtze River of China

“…The abilities to repel both water and oil, together with their chemical and thermal stabilities, have made PFCs very useful in many commercial applications (Kissa, 2001). The widespread application, environmental persistence and bioaccumulative potential of PFCs result in the global occurrence of these substances in air Stock et al, 2004); water Schultz et al, 2004;So et al, 2004;Yamashita et al, 2004); sediment and sludge (Higgins et al, 2005); as well as various wildlife species inhabiting not only locations in close proximity to pollution sources, but also in remote areas (Houde et al, 2006, and references therein). Among the PFCs, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), regarded as the terminal degradation end-products, are the two chemicals that have frequently been detected in environmental samples, and very often occur at the highest concentrations.…”