SelectScience
Join Free
Accelerating Science
NewsEnvironmental

From Sample to Knowledge: Strategies for Overcoming Challenges of Emerging Contaminants - PFC and Surfactants

SelectScience

Learn about options for environmental labs analyzing emerging contaminants and discover the benefits of automated sample prep in this upcoming seminar

19 Jun 2018
Emily Adam
Publishing / Media

Expert insights

With ever increasing numbers of compounds and classes screened for and quantitated in environmental samples, the need for sensitive and efficient analytical instruments and methods continues to rise. In this seminar, hosted by Thermo Fisher Scientific at SETAC Europe, learn from experts about their approaches to evaluating some of the most challenging environmental compounds.

Register Now

In the first part of the webinar, Dr. Davide Mariani, Head of Detergents and Surfactants at Innovhub-SSI, reviews automated surfactant extraction for analysis and quantitation. The extraction process covers matrices including textiles, polymers, and metal surfaces. Both the extraction challenges, as well as the anticipated analytical results, are explored. In addition to surfactants, recently, the analysis of polyfluorinated compounds (PFC) has created multiple challenges for labs.

Normally, the determination of PFCs is performed using sample pre-concentration via SPE followed by LC-MS/MS triple quad analysis. This approach is amenable to drinking or clean water samples. However, when analyzing wastewater samples or sludge samples that contain solvents or high organic concentrations, SPE cartridges have difficulty retaining PFAS consisting of short chains (like PFBA and PFBS). Furthermore, in dirty samples, the low resolution of triple quad technique can result in false positives. In our second lecture Dr. Massimo Peruzzo, of Eurolab, demonstrates the use of LC-HR-MS/MS (Orbitrap Q-Exactive Focus) to overcome these challenges, as well as how to eliminate the pre-concentration steps and use HRAM to enhance accuracy.

Key learning objectives:

  • Learn about options for environmental labs analyzing emerging contaminants
  • Explore background and regulations for emerging contaminants
  • Discover the benefits of automated sample prep for extraction and analysis of surfactants
  • Realize the advantages of HRAM technique for PFCs in sludge and wastewater samples
  • Receive expert guidance in PFC and surfactant analysis from subject matter experts


Who should attend:

  • Environmental lab directors and managers in municipal and state utilities and environmental contract labs
  • Instrument operators and analysts of emerging contaminants
  • Researchers of organic environmental contaminants, including graduate students, PhD or postdoctoral fellows
  • Trace organic analysis chemists


Certificate of attendance:

All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, with a learning outcomes summary document for continuing education purposes.

Register Now

Links

SelectScienceCompany website

Tags

Sample PreparationSample preparation can improve the quality and speed of separation techniques. Products to assist sample preparation include filtration equipment, evaporators, membranes and sieves.Atomic Absorption / Emission SpectroscopyAtomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) — also called optical emission spectroscopy (OES) — are used to detect the elemental constituents in samples. Both techniques involve the atomization of a sample. Atomic absorption spectrometers may use a flame or furnace to create an atomic vapor of the sample before irradiation with spectral light. Optical emission spectrometers may use a flame, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), microwave plasma (MP) or spark arcs to atomize and excite the sample. At higher excitation energies, electrons can be emitted instead of photons, which can be useful for samples that can’t be atomized and for surface analysis. Explore electron spectroscopy equipment such as Auger spectrometers and photoelectron spectrometers for surface elemental analysis of samples. Find the best atomic absorption, photoelectron and optical emission spectrometers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Infrared / IR SpectroscopyInfrared (IR) spectroscopy measures the interaction of infrared light with a sample, including transmission, reflectance & absorbance, facilitating the identification of analytes. Equipment used for quantitative analysis includes Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers, infrared cameras, FTIR gas analyzers, as well as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessories and pellet or film presses. Find the best IR spectroscopy products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Environmental Monitoring and TestingEnvironmental monitoring and testing uses handheld portable analyzers, kits, spectrometers or chromatography systems for air, water, soil, food and other sample testing. Useful features of analyzers such as BOD and COD include portability, easy calibration, automation and sensitivity.  Environmental test kits for pH, water, moisture, etc, should be accurate, sensitive, reliable, fast and easy to use.Environmental ContaminationContaminants in the environment are harmful chemicals that are present in the air, land and water. These include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and many more.Environmental AnalysisEnvironmental analysis describes a variety of tests that determine the effect of chemicals, processes and particulates such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have on the environment.

Related articles

From Sample to Knowledge: Strategies for Overcoming Challenges of Emerging Contaminants - PFC and Surfactants