Simultaneous LC/MS analysis of ultra-short through long chain PFAS compounds (C1-C10) using multi-modal chromatography

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) are a structurally diverse class of manmade chemicals utilized in a variety of manufacturing processes since the 1960s. Due to their hydrophobic and lipophobic moieties, these compounds have high mobility in water and soil allowing their proliferation throughout the environment; further, the high bond strength of the C-F bond renders many PFAS indestructible in common environmental conditions and in human bodies, leading to bioaccumulation. Due to their links with adverse health effects, recalcitrance, and widespread occurrence in the environment, attention is focused on the ability to detect PFAS at low concentrations. In this poster, utilizing the Shodex VT-50 2D, a sensitive and repeatable assay of PFAS including ultra-short chain (C1-C4) though long chain (C8-C10) compounds was developed to explore the retention mechanism and MS sensitivity. The chromatographic separation utilized a polyvinyl alcohol solid support with quaternary ammonium surface functional groups, the VT-50 series, capable of multi-modal retention capabilities in buffered acetonitrile eluents.