PFAS Analysis Without Compromise

Significance of the Topic

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products. Their strong carbon–fluorine bonds confer environmental stability and resistance to degradation. Growing concerns over PFAS contamination in water, soil, and biota have led to stringent regulatory limits and standardized analytical methods. Reliable determination of PFAS at trace levels is therefore critical for public health, environmental monitoring, and regulatory compliance.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application-focused report from Agilent Technologies presents a comprehensive portfolio of sample preparation solutions for PFAS analysis in environmental matrices. The primary goals are to demonstrate method compliance with EPA and ISO standards, showcase robust solid-phase extraction (SPE) products, and illustrate improvements in laboratory efficiency, reproducibility, and data quality across drinking water, wastewater, soil, sediments, and other sample types.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Key sample cleanup approaches include:

• Polymeric weak anion exchange SPE (PFAS WAX) cartridges tailored for EPA Methods 533 and 1633 and ISO/DIS 21675:2019.
• Dual-phase SPE formats combining PFAS WAX with Carbon S sorbent for enhanced cleanup of aqueous and solid matrices.
• Carbon S passthrough cartridges for removal of pigments and matrix interferences in soils and biosolids.
• Captiva EMR formats for lipid removal and food sample cleanup.

Instrumentation employed across studies comprises ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC QQQ), as well as quality assays using GC-FID, HPLC QQQ, turbidity meters, particle sizing, and ion exchange titration for cartridge characterization.

Main Results and Discussion

Performance data demonstrate that Agilent SPE products achieve high analyte recovery (typically >80%) and low background contamination across more than 40 PFAS compounds, including carboxylic and sulfonic acids, fluorotelomer sulfonates, sulfonamides, and ether acids. Dual-phase cartridges simplify two-step cleanup workflows while maintaining regulatory compliance and offering flexibility for different sample complexities. Consistent lot-to-lot quality is ensured by extensive QA/QC testing, with Certificates of Analysis documenting PFAS cleanliness, recovery, and sorbent characteristics.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Regulatory Compliance: Products are validated against EPA Methods 533, 537/537.1, 1633, ASTM protocols, and ISO guidelines.
• Workflow Efficiency: Certified cartridges and PFAS-free consumables eliminate batch-to-batch verification, reducing operator time and reanalysis.
• Versatility: A range of cartridge formats and bed masses accommodates small to large sample volumes and diverse matrices.
• Data Reliability: Rigorous multistep QA/QC ensures reproducible recoveries, minimal matrix effects, and robust analytical performance.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Ongoing developments in PFAS analysis are expected to focus on expanding analytical scope to include emerging PFAS classes, improving automation of sample preparation, and integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry for suspect and non-target screening. Advances in sorbent technology will aim to further reduce matrix interferences and detection limits. Collaborative efforts between instrument manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and research laboratories will drive method harmonization and the adoption of green chemistry approaches in PFAS workflows.

Conclusion

Agilent’s comprehensive sample preparation solutions address the complex demands of environmental PFAS analysis by combining regulatory compliance, high recovery, low contamination, and operational efficiency. The integration of specialized SPE formats, PFAS-free consumables, and proven instrumentation workflows enables laboratories to generate reliable data, meet evolving regulations, and streamline PFAS monitoring programs.

References

No formal reference list was provided in the source document.