Analysis of zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic poly- and perfluoroalkyl surfactants in sediments by liquid chromatography polarity-switching electrospray ionization coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

Abstract

A new analytical method is proposed for the determination of a wide span of fluoroalkylated surfactants (PFASs) of various chain lengths and polarities in sediments, including newly-identified compounds such as zwitterionic and cationic PFASs. Extraction conditions were optimized so as to maintain a common preparation procedure for all analytes (recovery range: 60-110%). Instrumental analysis was performed with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry through polarity-switching electrospray ionization. Calibration curves with excellent coefficients of determination (R(2)>0.994) were generally obtained over 0.002-10ngg(-1) dry weight (dw) and limits of detection were in the range 0.0006-0.46 ng g(-1) dw. Intra-day precision remained<9% and inter-day precision<23%. While perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) generally prevailed over other perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in sediments from mainland France, fluorotelomer sulfonamide amines and fluorotelomer sulfonamide betaines were also ubiquitous in these samples, especially in the vicinity of airports wherein firefighting training activities may occur on a regular basis.

Biosurfactant trehalose lipid‐enhanced ultrasound‐assisted micellar extraction and determination of the main antioxidant compounds from functional plant tea

“…Then, 50 mg of blank E. ulmoides leaves were also determined by the same method. The spike recovery was determined as per the following equation adapted from : Where S is the signal measured in the sample spiked before extraction, NS is the signal measured in the non‐spiked sample, and Exp is the theoretically (expected) spiked amount.…”

“…Then, 50 mg of blank E. ulmoides leaves were also determined by the same method. The spike recovery was determined as per the following equation adapted from [36]:…”

A review of contamination of surface-, ground-, and drinking water in Sweden by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

“…Although studies suggest that another precursor—6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide betaine (6:2 FTAB)—exists, there is only a limited number of studies where 6:2 FTAB has been analyzed and quantified in environmental samples (Moe et al 2012; Boiteux et al 2016; Munoz et al 2016). Furthermore, over a dozen not frequently analyzed PFASs and PFAS precursor compounds have been identified in AFFF used in the USA, among them 8:2 FTSA (fluorotelomer sulfonic acid), zwitterionic PFASs, and shorter chain PFASs (C2–C3) (Backe et al 2013; Barzen-Hanson and Field 2015).…”

“…A combination of these two methods makes it easier to evaluate the amount of “unknown PFASs” in the sample (Hashiguchi et al 2013; Weiner et al 2013). To identify PFASs, which have previously not been ‘identified,’ the development of characterization techniques using high-resolution LC-MS/MS has been assessed, finding PFASs previously not reported (Munoz et al 2016). To date, there are no commercial or university laboratories in Sweden offering TOP-assay, which is problematic as human beings might be exposed to far higher amounts of PFASs than current analytical techniques are able to report.…”

Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate, and Health Effects

“…Since its initial discovery in surface waters, HFPO-DA has become an analyte of interest in several targeted analyses including the recent EPA Methods 537.1 and 533 for the determination of PFAS in drinking water [15,16]. In addition, untargeted methods have been used to discover a wide array of non-ionic, cationic, and zwitterionic PFAS [29][30][31][32][33]. Because these compounds would not be detected using typical analytical methods for anionic PFAS, their discovery highlights the importance of using untargeted techniques to better characterize the full extent of PFAS contamination in the environment.…”