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Gas-Phase Detection of Fluorotelomer Alcohols and Other Oxygenated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Citation:
Riedel, T., J. Lang, M. Strynar, A. Lindstrom, AND J. Offenberg. Gas-Phase Detection of Fluorotelomer Alcohols and Other Oxygenated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 6(5):289-293, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00196
Impact/Purpose:
This research paper describes fast (on the order of seconds) high-resolution mass spectrometry measurements of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the gas phase. Previous gas-phase measurements of these chemical species has been limited to liquid phase extracts or slow (on the order of days) measurements of gas-phase species. Individuals or parties interested in gas-phase PFAS measurements would likely find this research valuable.
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are incorporated into an ever-increasing number of modern products and inevitably enter the environment and ultimately human bodies. Herein, we show that chemical ionization mass spectrometry with iodide reagent ion chemistry is a useful technique for the detection of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and other oxygenated PFAS, including per- and polyfluoro carboxylic acids such as hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid. This technique offers direct, high-time resolution measurement capability with parts per trillion by volume (nanograms per cubic meter) gas-phase detection limits. Measurements were taken by direct volatilization of samples without prior processing, allowing for fast measurements and reduced sample treatment compared to established PFAS methods. We demonstrate the utility of this technique by sampling volatile and semivolatile PFAS from fluoro additives and fluoro products to quantify levels of FTOHs and identify additional fluorinated compounds for which standards were unavailable.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Gas-Phase Detection of Fluorotelomer Alcohols and Other Oxygenated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry
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