Differentiating PFAS sources using Orbitrap-IRMS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent industrial fluorinated compounds harmful to human and ecosystem health. PFAS contamination is a significant environmental issue, with these substances found globally, from tap water to remote locations. Identifying PFAS sources is challenging due to diverse manufacturing processes and environmental pathways.

While stable isotopic analysis has been applied to study the source and fate of micropollutants in the environment in the past, recent developments in Thermo Scientific Orbitrap-based isotope ratio mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-IRMS) have unlocked a unique opportunity for more comprehensive isotopic approach to study source apportionment and track degradation of PFAS.

Join our experts in exploring how Orbitrap-IRMS overcomes challenges of classical PFAS isotopic characterization and provides a framework for studying PFAS source apportionment both in controlled settings and in the environment.

Webinar highlights:

• Understanding isotopic analysis: why and how stable isotopic analyses are used to study the source and fate of micropollutants in the environment
• Benefits of Orbitrap-IRMS: how Orbitrap-based IRMS technology allows deriving intramolecular isotopic information faster and with less sample
• Isotope fingerprinting of PFAS: Newly developed method for determining the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) of PFOA
• Source apportionment framework: δ¹³C of PFOA allow separating multiple lots of the PFOA from one supplier from one another

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of PFAS source apportionment. Register now!

Presenter: Dr. Paul K. Wojtal (Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington)

Paul is a graduate of Brown University (Sc.B. in Chemistry, 2016) and the University of Miami (Ph.D. in Oceanography, 2024). His undergraduate thesis and Ph.D. dissertation both employed classical isotopic analysis techniques to study environmental problems. In his postdoctoral research, he has transitioned to using the Orbitrap-IRMS platform to study PFAS in a wide range of environments.

Presenter: Dr. Brett Davidheiser (IRMS Application Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)

Brett has a wide experience in isotope ratio mass spectrometry from his PhD at the University of Glasgow, running a stable isotope lab at CU Boulder, to his work at Thermo Fisher Scientific as applications scientist. He is currently involved in helping new users come up to speed with Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris Isotope Solutions for natural abundance isotope ratio analysis.