Analysis of PFOA
PFOA (aka C8) and the related compounds such as PFOS, the sulfonate, are of concern because they persist in the environment and accumulate in the body.  Very low levels of PFOS are commonly found in blood.  Their environmental fate and toxicity are not well understood at this time, but there is growing concern over their wide distribution.

PFOA and related compounds are used in non-stick coatings, stain resistant fabrics, and many industrial materials.

EPA Basic Information

EPA Risk Assessment

Testing for PFOA and and Related Compounds 

The preferred method for the analysis for PFOA is LC-MS/MS. Bodycote-WCAS has developed conditions for this analysis using a water/acetonitrile gradient, acidified with trifluoroacetic acid, on a C8 column. This yields good separation of PFOA from other analogs. Perfluorodecanoic acid is used as an internal standard. The instrument detection limit is approximately 0.2 ppb. However, PFOA can be concentrated using solid-phase extraction. This allows the sample detection limit to be lowered significantly, if sufficient sample is available. We have concentrated volumes of up to 20 mL to final extract

volumes of 2 mL, yielding a sample detection limit of 20 parts per trillion. In relatively clean matrices, further concentrations should be achievable, with resultant detection limits approaching 1 part per trillion or lower.

The primary concern in this analysis is the ease with which the analytical system can become contaminated, due to the omnipresence of teflon and other fluoropolymers. These are all potential sources of PFOA contamination, and steps must be taken to avoid fluoropolymers at all costs. The LC mobile phase is also subject to cleanup steps which are not normally necessary.

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LC-MS/MS Chromatogram of 20 ug/L PFOA Standard

WCAS, chemical testing, laboratory analysis, ICPMS, FTIR, GCMS, HPLC

9240 Santa Fe Springs Rd
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

info-wcas@bodycote.com

562.948.2225 Fax 562.948.5850

 Bodycote Testing Group