Reduce PFAS Background with the Agilent PFC-Free HPLC Conversion Kit

Significance of the topic

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS are persistent organic pollutants that accumulate in the environment and pose health risks even at trace concentrations. Liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry LCMSMS is the standard for PFAS analysis, but fluoropolymer components in HPLC systems leach PFAS, increasing background and compromising detection limits. A dedicated conversion kit that replaces these materials and adds a delay column can suppress instrumental PFAS contamination, enabling reliable trace analysis.

Study objectives and overview

This technical overview evaluates an Agilent PFC Free HPLC Conversion Kit designed to reduce PFAS background in LCMSMS workflows. Four system configurations were compared: standard LC, standard LC with delay column, PFC free LC without delay column, and PFC free LC with delay column. The impact on background levels was assessed across 38 representative PFAS compounds.

Methodology and instrumentation

Methodology

• System setups were tested on an Agilent 1290 Infinity II High Speed Pump G7120A and Multisampler with multiwash option G7167B
• A ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 RRHD column and a 4.6 x 30 mm PFC delay column achieved separation and background isolation
• Mobile phases comprised 5 mM ammonium acetate in water and methanol with a 0.4 mL min gradient
• Dynamic MRM in negative mode on an Agilent G6495C triple quadrupole quantified 38 PFAS analytes spanning carboxylic acids sulfonic acids fluorotelomer and emerging replacement compounds

Instrumentation

• Agilent 1290 Infinity II High Speed Pump G7120A
• Agilent 1290 Infinity II Multisampler G7167B with multiwash
• Agilent 1290 Infinity II Multicolumn Thermostat G7116B
• ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 RRHD analytical and guard columns
• InfinityLab PFC delay column 4.6 x 30 mm
• Agilent G6495C triple quadrupole MS

Key results and discussion

Replacing PTFE and FEP components with PP PEEK and stainless steel parts reduced PFAS background by over an order of magnitude. The PFC delay column further shifted residual background peaks outside the active MRM windows. In the fully converted system with delay column, 36 out of 38 analytes showed no detectable background, and the remaining two fell below 0.02 ng L equivalent. Calibration curves for PFHpA and PFNA exhibited intercepts below detection limits only in the complete PFC free setup with delay column.

Benefits and practical applications

The conversion kit offers a turnkey solution for laboratories performing trace PFAS analysis in drinking and environmental water. It ensures compliance with US EPA methods 533 5371 and ISO 21675 by eliminating system induced PFAS background, improving data quality, reducing sample reruns, and enhancing throughput.

Future trends and potential applications

Future developments may include conversion options for quaternary and lowpressure mixing pumps, alternative delay column chemistries to capture novel PFAS, and integration with automated online SPE platforms. Expanding nonfluorinated seal materials and advancing column technologies will support emerging PFAS monitoring challenges.

Conclusion

The Agilent PFC Free HPLC Conversion Kit paired with a dedicated PFC delay column effectively eliminates PFAS background from LCMSMS systems, enabling robust ultratrace PFAS quantification in compliance with stringent regulatory limits.

Reference

1 Wang Z et al A Never Ending Story of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances PFASs Environ Sci Technol 2017 51 5 2508 2518
2 Rosenblum L Wendelken SC Method 533 Determination of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water by Isotope Dilution Anion Exchange SPE and LCMSMS US EPA 2019
3 Shoemaker J Tettenhorst D Method 5371 Determination of Selected Per and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances in Drinking Water by SPE and LCMSMS US EPA 2020
4 EPA Method 8327 Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances using External Standard Calibration and MRM LCMSMS US EPA 2019
5 ISO 21675 2019 Water Quality Determination of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances using SPE and LCMSMS