A significant breakthrough in PFAS detection has occurred with the development of a novel, low-cost technique using paper spray and mass spectrometry. This innovative method enables rapid analysis of PFAS contamination in a wide variety of samples. Food packaging can now be analyzed for PFAS in less than a minute, while soil samples do not require prior preparation for direct analysis.
Unlike traditional mass spectrometry, which requires laborious sample preparation, paper spray-based techniques provide rapid detection, averaging about 3 minutes per sample. These methods have proven effective in the analysis of diverse sources such as drinking water, tap water, wastewater, and food packaging materials.
For samples with interfering salt matrices, spray mass spectrometry on desalted paper is proving to be a rapid solution that effectively desalts, ionizes, and detects PFAS species.
The retention of PFAS on the paper substrate during analysis is attributed to hydrophilic interactions between PFAS molecules and the cellulose surface.
The desalted paper spray mass spectrometry method demonstrates remarkable sensitivity and potential for direct analysis of environmental samples. Notably, the analysis revealed traces of several PFAS molecules, including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which is known to be associated with health risks such as increased cancer risk and immune system suppression.
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