Concentrating EPA 537.1 Extracts: Fast, Reliable, Low BackgroundPolyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment
Oral Presentation
Presented by M. Ebitson
Prepared by E. Walters
Biotage, LLC, 10430 Harris Oaks Blvd., Suite C, Charlotte, NC, 28269, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 800-446-4752
ABSTRACT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are receiving a great deal of attention in the environmental community. These man-made chemicals are becoming ubiquitous in the environment and can even be found in our food, house-hold items and drinking water. Once introduced into the environment, PFAS compounds can persist and accumulate over time, raising concerns over adverse health effects related to human exposure. The most recent revision of EPA Method 537.1 outlines a procedure for quantifying eighteen PFAS analytes in drinking water at detection levels (DL) ranging from 0.53-2.4ng/L. Due to the ubiquitous nature of these compounds, it is crucial that background PFAS contamination is minimized in all steps of the analytical procedure. This study focuses on the concentration step of EPA 537.1 by evaluating the background levels of the TurboVap® LV concentrator, both with and without the full extraction procedure. Results show that background PFAS levels are below the DL criteria for EPA method 537.1, as a standalone concentrator. In addition, any quantifiable PFAS background levels detected were consistent, which makes it easier for labs to identify other sources of background that may be introduced during the analytical procedure. In conclusion, this evaluation demonstrates that the TurboVap® LV is a reliable tool for quick concentration of EPA 537.1 extracts, while meeting the low-background requirements.
