Automation of US EPA Method 1633 for the Determination of PFAS Samples using the FREESTYLE XANA-PFAS SystemAutomation & Innovation for Sample Preparation
Poster Presentation
Presented by S. McHugh
Prepared by F. Foster1, R. Collins2, S. Weirer3, A. Kopf3
1 - GERSTEL, Inc., 701 Digital Drive, Suite J, Linthicum, MD, 21090, United States
2 - GERSTEL, Inc., 701 Digital Drive, Suite J, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090, United States
3 - LCTech GmbH, Daimlerstraße 4, Obertaufkirchen, Germany, 84419, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 410-247-5885
ABSTRACT
The latest US EPA draft Method 1633 examines 40 PFAS compounds across nine compound classes – including linear and branched isomers – in wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, biosolids, sediment, landfill leachate, and fish tissue. For all sample types, this method requires solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Modern analytical labs are looking to automation to help increase sample throughput for their samples while ensuring the resulting data is of the highest quality.
In this study, we were able to show the fully automated sample preparation of PFAS samples for LC-MS/MS analysis was successfully achieved by applying a single cartridge SPE solution with the FREESTYLE XANA-PFAS robotic system according to US EPA 1633. Data showing recovery rates within the acceptance criteria for the PFAS analytes of US EPA 1633 are presented. The FREESTYLE XANA-PFAS robotic system is especially suited for PFAS determination because it contains no fluorine-containing plastics such as PTFE in the flow path, thus solving the significant issue of high blank values present in other systems. In this study, no measurable blank values were seen from the system.
