Combustion ion chromatography for extractable organofluorine analysis

Abstract

Summary Combustion ion chromatography (CIC) has found a role in environmental analytical chemistry for fluorine content analysis. It is used for extractable organofluorine (EOF) analysis to evaluate perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and other organofluorine burden. The prevailing assumption has been that all PFASs are incinerated in CIC and matrix components have no impact on this process, but this has not been experimentally evaluated. In this work, the combustion efficiencies of 13 different PFASs were determined (66–110%). A notable difference was observed between calibrating the CIC with inorganic fluorine or organofluorine. Potential interferences from cations and coextracted matrix components from whole blood and surface water samples were evaluated. These observations should be acknowledged when performing EOF analysis using CIC, overlooking either non-100% combustion efficiencies or the differences in calibrating the CIC with inorganic fluorine or organofluorine could lead to underestimating EOF content and through that to misguide policy decisions.

Separation of perfluoroalkyl substances by ion chromatography with a resorcinarene stationary phase

“…These methods either require extra pre-treatment steps or often have relatively low effectiveness because of high matrix effects like groundwater contaminants and common environmental co-contaminants. Recently, combustion ion chromatography (IC), where compounds are combusted and their fluorides are run through an IC system has been successfully adapted to quantify PFAS [20][21][22]. However, these methods do not analyze individual PFAS and quantify them.…”

Development of a standardized adsorbable organofluorine screening method for wastewaters with detection by combustion ion chromatography

“…It has been suggested that some low PFAS recoveries may be due to incomplete combustion. 26 To evaluate the possibility of incomplete combustion, 10 analytes with mean recoveries ≤70% (FDEA, FDUEA, 10 : 2 FTS, PFTrA, FDET, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, N-Me-FOSE, N-EtFOSE, trifluralin, and oxyfluorfen) on the APU sim were spiked directly from the individual stocks onto the top GAC and dried in a 55 °C oven for 10 minutes to evaporate the methanol. The top GAC column was then placed in a column holder along with a bottom GAC column and washed with 8.2 g L −1 KNO 3 .…”

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, multi-halogen mass balance determination in municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge

“…These data are in reasonable agreement with a prior study investigating combustion efficiencies of 13 PFAS, which showed consistent combustion efficiency for most substances. 43 Overall, combustion efficiencies for inorganic and organic F, Cl, and Br, were sufficiently accurate and precise for carrying out OHC mass balance experiments, although there is a need for EOX interlaboratory studies and reference materials to further standardize these methods for widespread use.…”