Reaching Ultra-Trace PFAS Detection Limits by Overcoming Solvent Effects at High Injection Volumes

Analyzing samples dissolved in organic solvents at high sensitivity can be challenging. Increasing injection volumes is usually not an option, as solvent effects impact retention and peak shapes. Feed Injection can mediate these solvent effects, as the sample is being diluted with mobile phase during injection. Therefore, higher injection volumes are possible at otherwise identical conditions, compared to the classic flowthrough injection principle.

Analyzing PFAS in drinking water or food, often requires sample preparation. Therefore, the final samples are dissolved in Methanol or Acetonitrile. By using Feed Injection with suitable settings, high injection volumes are still possible without severe solvent effects, which helps to reach low detection limits.

Combining a high concentration factor in sample preparation with the use of Feed Injection for improved chromatographic performance at high injection volumes and with state-of-the-art LC/MS instrumentation allows lowest possible PFAS detection limits.

Presenter: Edgar Naegele (LC Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Edgar holds a Master’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in organic chemistry from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. Edgar worked for different chemical and pharmaceutical companies and joined Agilent Technologies in 2001 as an application scientist for liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS). He has worked on nano-LC/MS, proteomics, LC/MS metabolite ID, SFC, food LC/MS, and general LC/MS applications. Edgar is currently focused on the application of online LC in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Presenter: Matthias Kamuf (R&D Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Matthias joined Agilent in 2016 as an R&D Scientist. Since then, he has worked on various development projects, mainly for developing consumables for LC instruments. Lately he was focused on developing products specifically designed for use in PFAS applications, enabling low background and high sensitivity.

Presenter: Day Powell (Field Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Day joined Agilent in 2022 as an Environmental Application Specialist, before this he worked for United Utilities (UU) as a Technical Specialist responsible for developing new methodologies for both LC-MS and GC-MS applications. Day has a focus on targeted Environmental analysis across EMEAI regulations with a specialist knowledge of PFAS analysis.