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Analytical Methods for Quantifying Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Source Samples: An Overview of Other Test Methods 45 and 50
Citation:
Wallace, M. AND M. Smeltz. Analytical Methods for Quantifying Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Source Samples: An Overview of Other Test Methods 45 and 50. International Conference on Thermal Treatment Technologies & Hazardous Waste Combustors, Charlotte, NC, September 13 - 14, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) compose a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals with advantageous physical and chemical properties for consumer and industrial applications. PFAS have stain-resistant, water-resistant, non-stick, and lubricating properties and are used in cookware, building materials, adhesives, cleaning products, cosmetics, explosives, fire-fighting foams, pesticides, polymers, and more. While PFAS are widely used throughout the world due to their commercial applications, they have also become a source of environmental contamination. PFAS are persistent in the environment because they are stable compounds that are difficult to destroy due to their strong carbon-fluorine (C-F) backbone. PFAS can be released into the environment through sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), incinerators, chemical production plants, aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) use, and landfills. Incomplete combustion of PFAS can lead to the formation of products of incomplete combustion (PICs) that may be released into the environment. It is important for waste treatment operations to fully mineralize PFAS to ensure that no degradation products are released that may also be harmful to the environment or humans. Source sampling methods have been developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor the effectiveness of waste treatments at destroying PFAS. These methods are Other Test Method (OTM)-45 and 50. OTM-45 was released in 2021 and is a performance-based method for sampling stationary source emissions. This method employs the use of a modified method 0010 train consisting of filters, XAD-2 resin, and impingers is used to collect samples and quantify 49 semi-volatile and particulate-bound PFAS using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). OTM-50 is still under development at U.S. EPA. OTM-50 is used to collect source emissions samples in 6 L canisters to quantify up to 30 very volatile PFAS using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Overviews of each of these sampling and analytical methods as well as updates to the methods will be covered in this presentation.
Description:
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) compose a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals with advantageous physical and chemical properties for consumer and industrial applications. PFAS have stain-resistant, water-resistant, non-stick, and lubricating properties and are used in cookware, building materials, adhesives, cleaning products, cosmetics, explosives, fire-fighting foams, pesticides, polymers, and more. While PFAS are widely used throughout the world due to their commercial applications, they have also become a source of environmental contamination. PFAS are persistent in the environment because they are stable compounds that are difficult to destroy due to their strong carbon-fluorine (C-F) backbone. PFAS can be released into the environment through sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), incinerators, chemical production plants, aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) use, and landfills. Incomplete combustion of PFAS can lead to the formation of products of incomplete combustion (PICs) that may be released into the environment. It is important for waste treatment operations to fully mineralize PFAS to ensure that no degradation products are released that may also be harmful to the environment or humans. Source sampling methods have been developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor the effectiveness of waste treatments at destroying PFAS. These methods are Other Test Method (OTM)-45 and 50. OTM-45 was released in 2021 and is a performance-based method for sampling stationary source emissions. This method employs the use of a modified method 0010 train consisting of filters, XAD-2 resin, and impingers is used to collect samples and quantify 49 semi-volatile and particulate-bound PFAS using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). OTM-50 is still under development at U.S. EPA. OTM-50 is used to collect source emissions samples in 6 L canisters to quantify up to 30 very volatile PFAS using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Overviews of each of these sampling and analytical methods as well as updates to the methods will be covered in this presentation.