Simultaneous Analysis of Multiple PFAS Components
in Wastewater
Because PFAS offer a range of useful functions, they are used as coatings for various parts. If PFAS are used in a production line process and uncontrolled wastewater from the factory is discharged into the environment, they could cause environmental pollution, so it is recommended that such factory wastewater are monitored to determine whether they contain PFAS.
Analysis of PFAS Contained in Factory Wastewater
EPA Method 1633
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a standard method for
measuring PFAS in environmental samples using a triple quadrupole liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer
(LC-MS/MS) system. EPA Method 1633 is used to quantify PFAS concentrations in water, solids, sludge, and
biological tissue. The following describes using an LCMS-8050 system to analyze the PFAS concentrations in
factory wastewater based on EPA Method 1633.
EPA Method 1633 specifies the measurement of 40 types of
native compounds, 23 types of extracted internal standards (EIS), and 7 types of non-extracted internal
standards (NIS). That requires simultaneous analysis of multiple components.
For PFAS in environmental
samples, it was verified that the LCMS-8050 system adequately satisfies quality control, validation, and
device performance criteria.
MRM Chromatogram at The Lowest Point of The Calibration Curve
Analyzing the lowest concentration standard of the calibration curve range specified by EPA Method 1633 resulted in excellent peak shape and separation.
Spike and Recovery Test of Factory Wastewater
We measured purified water and wastewater samples using the solid phase extraction
method, which is also used in EPA Method 1633. The compound recovery rates from the purified water samples
were within 50 to 150 % for all compounds except D5-NEtFOSA. The results show that for all compounds the EIS
recovery rates from wastewater were somewhat lower than from purified water, but the EIS recovery rates of
both samples were within the allowable range reported in EPA Method 1633.
Despite having the
concentration of the lowest point of the calibration curve, recovery rates and reproducibility (%RSD) values
of both purified water and wastewater satisfied environmental sample criteria for all compounds except 3:3
FTCA.
The Application News article “Analysis of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances(PFAS) using the LCMS-8050 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer According to EPA Draft Method 1633” can be downloaded from this link.
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