EPA Method 533 Validation of PFAS Comparing Manual and Automated Offline SPE Followed by LC-MS/MS

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment - Session 2
Oral Presentation

Prepared by X. Zhang, C. Qiu, R. Ullah, Y. Liu
Thermo Fisher Scientific, 490 Lakeside Dr, Sunnyvale, CALIFORNIA, 948085, United States


Contact Information: xin.zhang@thermofisher.com; 408 769 9786

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have unique properties in consumer products that lead to a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately, their toxicity, bioaccumulation, prevalence and persistence in waters and soils make them a hot topic and global concern. The traditional compounds studied to investigate environmental impacts have focused on two compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic acid sulfonate (PFOS). However, it is now well established that there are possibly 3-4000 forms that can vary in length, linear or branched and ether telomer forms. Though EPA 537 and 537.1 have been developed by the EPA, a more recent method, EPA 533, has been validated to incorporate smaller length PFAS compounds, telomers and precursor compounds also using offline SPE followed by LC-MS/MS detection.

We will present our results with the EPA interlaboratory studies for sample preparation, validation reporting, calibration ranges, blanks and background results that occur with analytical instrumentation. Additional results for surrogates, spike recoveries, system suitability, MDL’s, LOQ and LOD results. In addition, we will also present results using an automated extraction and sample cleanup using a new Peek based extraction system which has significant improvements over more traditional vacuum based offline SPE systems.