Analyses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products are focused upon perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), sulfonates (PFSAs), phosphates (diPAPs), and fluorotelomer alcohols. However, it is not known if these classes represent a minor or major fraction of the highly fluorinated substances on consumer product such as paper and textiles. Fifteen papers and fabrics were analyzed using four techniques: liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for 72 individual PFASs among 11 different PFAS classes, total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay, GC-MS for 51 individual PFASs in 10 classes of volatile PFASs, and total fluorine by particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy.  The TOP assay was used to quantify the presence of precursors found in consumer products by quantifying the net production of PFCAs and PFSAs.  The net production of PFCAs/PFSAs that cannot be accounted for individual PFASs (determined pre-oxidation and LC-MS/MS) is a measure of additional precursors. Picomolar quantities of individual PFASs, determined by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS, were compared to the total picomoles of PFCAs/PFSAs generated by the TOP assay and to the total fluorine content of papers and textiles determined by PIGE. The relationship between the TOP Assay and PIGE indicated good agreement between these methods in the absence of fluoropolymers.  Total PFASs measured by LC-MS/MS and GC/MS accounted for only a fraction of the total fluorine of PIGE and the TOP assay, which indicates that additional PFAS that have not yet been identified make up the majority of the highly fluorinated substances on papers and textiles.  <br/>

Scratching the surface of PFASs: An attempt at closing the mass balance using four techniques in select consumer products

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.