Revealing Hidden Isomers: High-Resolution Separation of Regulated PFAS in Infant FormulaEmerging Environmental Applications for High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Poster Presentation
Prepared by J. Krone, M. Fico, F. Strathmann
MOBILion Systems, 4 Hillman Drive, Suite 130, Chadds Ford, PA, 76049, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 817-357-5131
ABSTRACT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulate in the human body, presenting heightened risks to infants during critical development. Assessing safety in infant formula requires more than measuring total PFAS; it demands distinguishing structural isomers, such as the linear and branched forms of PFOS, which often possess different toxicological profiles. Conventional LC-MS workflows frequently lack the resolution to separate these molecules without impractical chromatographic runtimes. This study addresses the challenge of resolving isomeric PFAS species in complex infant formula matrices at EU-regulated levels. We demonstrate a rapid workflow coupling LC-MS with high-resolution ion mobility (HRIM). This orthogonal gas-phase separation distinguishes branched and linear isomers based onmolecular shape, providing accurate collision cross section (CCS) values to improve characterization confidence.

