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Optimized method avoiding solvent-induced response enhancement in the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile polyfluorinated alkylated compounds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Dreyer A, Temme C, Sturm R, Ebinghaus R

Institute for Coastal Research, GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, Max Planck Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.

A method for the analysis of airborne (semi-)volatile polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) was optimized to avoid solvent-induced response enhancements as observed using ethyl acetate as extraction solvent (recoveries up to 300%, likely due to acetic acid as impurity). Of nine solvents tested, only the use of acetone, dichloromethane, methyl tert-butyl ether, and acetone:petroleum ether (1:1, v/v) resulted in recoveries below 100% and acetone:methyl tert-butyl ether (1:1, v/v) was chosen as suited extraction solvent. An appropriate GC capillary column and the application of mass-labelled internal standards appeared to be essential for these analyses. Instrumental limits of detection of <0.2pg (dimethylperfluoroocatanesulfonamide, ethyl-[(2)H(5)]perfluorooctanesulfonamide, methyl-[(2)H(3)]perfluorooctanesulfonamide) to 8.2pg (perfluorooctanesulfonamide) and LOQ of 0.4pg (dimethylperfluoroocatanesulfonamide, ethyl-[(2)H(5)]perfluorooctanesulfonamide, methyl-[(2)H(3)]perfluorooctanesulfonamide) to 16.4pg (perfluorooctanesulfonamide) were determined.

Published 31 December 2007 in J Chromatogr A, 1178(1): 199-205.
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