Leveraging MS1 Data in Non-Targeted Workflows to Improve PFAS DiscoveryPer- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment
Oral Presentation
Prepared by D. Schiessel, R. Cahill
Babcock Laboratories, Inc., 6100 Quail Valley Ct, Riverside, CA, 92507, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 951-653-3351
ABSTRACT
Although Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) have been monitored for years, recent research has shown various gaps in currently used analytical techniques to fully capture and characterize total PFAS within drinking water samples. Total organic fluorine techniques can only detect PFAS at relatively high concentrations with MRLs around 400-800ng/L in drinking water. This leaves the possibility that total organic fluorine in drinking water contains other unmonitored PFAS at very low concentrations. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is selective and sensitive to detect these constituents in full scan (MS1 level). However, MS/MS data are often not available due to the low abundance of these features. Therefore, novel techniques have been employed based on research within the last 2 years that allows for further identification and confidence beyond homologous series and Kendrick mass defect. This presentation will cover some of these techniques as well as their limitations.
