Analysis of Organofluorine Compounds (PFOA, PFOS)

PFOA, PFOS, and their related substances, which possess hydrophilic functional groups and hydrophobic alkyl side chains, have the characteristic of readily dissolving in water and oil. Due to this property, they are commonly used in many industrial products, including surfactants, water-repellent agents, and waterproofing agents. These are extremely stable compounds due to the strong bonds between the carbon atoms and fluorine atoms. A variety of research projects in recent years indicate that they are accumulating in humans and animals and are remaining in the environment on a global scale. Their biological toxicity has not yet been fully clarified but they are attracting attention as new persistent organic pollutants.
This section introduces the simultaneous analysis of typical PFOA and PFOS using LC/MS.

Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer

This instrument is widely used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace quantities of chemical substances. The column and mobile phase are selected to suit the analysis target. Due to its excellent qualitative capacity, the LC/MS is a powerful tool for the quantitative analysis of multiple components.