Improvement of the global quantification of PFAS through TF, AOF and EOF measurements: Application to complex environmental matrices (sludge and compost) from wastewater treatment plants
Résumé
More than 4000 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also called forever chemicals are attracting the warning of scientists and public authorities [1]. The application of ion chromatography to environmental matrices allows the global analysis of different halogens including fluorine thanks to initial sample combustion using CIC instrument [2]. Depending on the sample preparation, different fractions of the sample can be analysed by CIC [5]: TF (total fluorine), EOF (extractable organic fluorine) or AOF (adsorbable organic fluorine). Removal of inorganic fluorine (IF) is needed for discrimination of organic fluorine from TF content. Even though the analytical principle is relatively simple, different methodological issues may arise. Differences in analytical responses related to the forms (inorganic or organic) or chemical structure (easily or not incinerated during combustion step), and mismatch with standards used for calibration could lead either to under- or over-estimation of the fluorine content [3]. Due to the large range of polarity among PFAS, recoveries during solid phase extraction step both on activated carbon or other polymeric cartridges should be assessed to avoid underestimation of OF content. Effect of complex matrices such as compost or sludges for solid samples, or WWTP effluent for liquid samples need to be investigated to validate the robustness of the method. For this study, our objective is to propose validated robust and reliable methods for measuring global organic fluorine based on CIC measurements for TF and EOF for complex solids and AOF, SPE-AOF, EOF and TF for liquid samples. Methods will applied on biosolids and recovered fertilizers to evaluate the capacity of PFAS release to the environment through spreading of these materials.
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