A Simple, Rapid Method for the Analysis of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids in Drinking, Ground and Waste Waters Using GC/MS/MS

New Organic Monitoring Techniques
Oral Presentation

Prepared by M. Pennington-Boggio1, E. Doty2, G. Schafran2, C. Svingos1
1 - Hampton Roads Sanitation District, 1432 Air Rail Ave, Virginia Beach, VA, 23455, United States
2 - Potomac Aquifer Recharge Monitoring Laboratory, , , United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 757-460-4286

ABSTRACT

Increasing regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the difficulty of effectively treating and removing PFAS from water necessitate quick and simple analytical methods for process monitoring. While the approved EPA methods for regulatory analysis of PFAS compounds produce reliable, low-level data, the sample preparation is costly and time consuming. A novel method that is fast, simple and robust has been developed for analysis of the C2-C13 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and HFPO-DA (GenX). The method uses a much smaller volume than the EPA methods (40 mL), a rapid benchtop derivatization and microextraction that does not require specialized equipment, and analysis by GC/MS/MS. A single sample can be prepared and analyzed in under 30 minutes to produce near real-time monitoring data. The method has been validated in drinking water, groundwater, and domestic and industrial wastewaters through spike recoveries and comparison of data produced following regulatory methods. Limits of Quantitation (LOQs) achieved are comparable to or lower than those in the published EPA methods. Additionally, it offers the ability to analyze the ultra-short chain PFCAs (C2-C3) which are challenging to quantitate through the conventional LC/MS/MS techniques. Highly linear calibration from 1.0 ng/L – 100 ng/L has been consistently achieved with RSEs < 10%. To date, this method has been extensively used to monitor the treatment efficiency in a water reuse process train by quickly analyzing PFCA removal. Low cost and quick turnaround make this method a useful tool for analyzing select PFAS compounds to assist in making fast treatment decisions.