Analysis of Neutral PFAS in Ambient Air Using Thermal Desorption GC-MS

User Benefits

- A thermal desorption GC-MS system can accurately measure quantities of volatile and semivolatile per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in ambient air. - The TD-30R thermal desorption system can perform high-throughput analysis as it does not require solvent extraction.

Introduction

Because of the excellent heat-resistance and water-repelling properties of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), they are used in many consumable products and industrial applications. However, their resistance to degradation and concerns over their persistence in the environment and toxicity to organisms mean they are increasingly regulated throughout the world. As one of the pollution routes of PFAS, the atmospheric dispersion of PFAS exhaust gas emitted from factories using PFAS is a concern. Therefore, monitoring studies have been conducted considering the risk of long-term exposure of PFAS to the respiratory system and the spread of PFAS pollution from atmospheric dispersion of PFAS. Because of the tightening of PFAS regulations, analytical methods are being developed for a variety of matrices, including water, soil, and food. While most of these methods target non-volatile (ionic) PFAS and use a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS), volatile or semivolatile neutral PFAS are not easily measured by these methods, so a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) is suitable for those compounds. In this Application News, the TD-30R thermal desorption system coupled to a GC-MS system measured the quantities of nine volatile and semivolatile neutral PFAS in ambient air.

March 18, 2025 GMT