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Data Supporting the Use of Evacuated Whole Air Canisters for the Sampling and Analysis of Volatile PFAS from Industrial and Combustion/Incineration Sources
Citation:
Ryan, J. AND E. Shields. Data Supporting the Use of Evacuated Whole Air Canisters for the Sampling and Analysis of Volatile PFAS from Industrial and Combustion/Incineration Sources. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this product is to document what ORD research has learned that supports the development of a potential source method, such as a formal “Other Test Method” (OTM), including supporting data, for the measurement of volatile per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) emissions from industrial and combustion/incineration sources using whole air (AKA “SUMMA”) canisters combined with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. This product also includes discussion of additional experimental data needed to support development of the intended canister OTM. As a result, the primary target audience for this product is EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), who are responsible for the development and public availability of OTMs.
Description:
The data presented here from lab, pilot-scale incinerator, and other field full-scale incineration and non-incineration technology tests demonstrate that the use of whole air canisters can be successfully applied to combustion and non-combustion sources for analysis of volatile PFAS. For non-combustion sources, or sources that are low in moisture and acid gases, the samples can be collected whole. Whole air sampling allows for the analysis of some more polar and semivolatile PFAS, such as fluorotelomer alcohols and specific industrial compounds of interest. Combustion sources will require the use of impingers to ensure that the moisture and acid gases are controlled. This will limit target compounds to only the nonpolar volatile PFAS. Whole air canisters, especially the silicon-ceramic coated canisters, can provide a stable container for volatile nonpolar and some polar PFAS and the analysis of the canister samples can give detection limits down to 0.05 ppbv. Canisters provide better durability, inertness, and sample hold times when compared to other available containers (such as glass or bags). The ORD’s results have led to the approach being identified as a candidate EPA Other Test Method (OTM). The need for having formal PFAS test methods publicly available to support emissions test programs and multiple stakeholders (e.g., States, DoD, sources of potential regulatory interest) is acknowledged. This OTM can fill the need for a targeted volatile PFAS test method. While more ORD research is needed to fully inform the method, the results to date are sufficient to initiate preparation of an OTM. This OTM would be suitable for the current volatile PFAS targets lists, but also be capable of being expanded to additional PFAS targets of interest as their measurement performance can be characterized.