Determination of 57 Kinds of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water,Sediments and Biological Samples by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A method including sample pretreatment and instrumental detection was developed for quantifying 57 kinds of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)in surface water,influent and effluent water of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs),sediment and biological samples.The water samples and sediment samples were concentrated and purified by WAX solid phase extraction (SPE)columns and ion-pairing liquid -extraction method,respectively;while the fish samples were firstly digested with alkaline to protein and fat, and then extracted by WAX SPE column.The target PFAS were detected by ultra-high liquid chromatography -tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)in negative electrospray ionization (ESI-)mode and quantified with internal standard method and calibration curve (0.5-100 mu g/L).All PFAS could be separated within 10 min and the determination coefficients for PFAS were all >0.99.The recoveries of 57 kinds of PFAS in surface water,influent and effluent waters,sediment and fish were 61.2%-143.0%,60.1%-128.0%, 60.5%-128.0%,60.3%-134.0% and 60.9%-127.0%,respectively,with relative standard deviations (RSDs)ranging from 0.18% to 24%.Besides,the method quantification limits (MQLs)were 0.04 -6.90 ng/L,0.05-8.50 ng/L,0.04-9.30 ng/L,0.01-2.20 ng/g and 0.21-7.90 ng/g,respectively.The method was applied to determination of PFAS in water samples from Maozhou River,influent and effluent waters from a WWTP and fish samples from the North River.Twenty kinds of PFAS were found in the water and sediment from the Maozhou river,dominated by PFOS (50.5 ng/L and 8.79 ng/g,respectively); 11 kinds of PFAS were detected in the WWTP with PFOA as the main compound,and the removal rates were less than 25% .Only 8 kinds of longer chain-length PFAS were observed in the fish samples,dominated by PFOS (up to 14.8 ng/g).The established method was sensitive and accurate,and suitable for simultaneous detection of 57 kinds of PFAS in various environmental matrix and biological samples.

Automated summary

A method for quantifying 57 kinds of PFAS in various environmental matrix and biological samples was developed and applied to water samples, influent and effluent waters from a WWTP, and fish samples, showing sensitivity and accuracy.