Precision and Accuracy Data of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Multiple Soil Matrices Using ASTM Standard D7968

Characterization of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment
Oral Presentation

Prepared by D. Kleinmaier1, S. Bonina2, C. Acheson3, R. Herrmann3, L. Zintek1, G. Schupp1
1 - US EPA – Region 5 Chicago Regional Laboratory, 536 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
2 - Pegasus, 536 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
3 - US EPA – ORD/NRMRL, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45268, United States


Contact Information: kleinmaier.danielle@epa.gov; 312-353-9771


ABSTRACT

The US EPA Chicago Regional Laboratory (CRL) and Office of Research and Development National Risk Management Research Laboratory (ORD/NRMRL) developed a robust soil method for qualitative and quantitative determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at low concentration levels (ng/kg). For this method, a 2-gram solid sample is collected, spiked with surrogates, and extracted by adding 10 mL of 1:1 methanol and water. The pH is adjusted to 9 – 10 with ammonium hydroxide and the solid-solvent mixture is tumbled for 1 hour and then centrifuged. The centrate is filtered and the pH is adjusted to 3 – 4 with acetic acid and analyzed by LC/MS/MS utilizing external calibration. The method was developed and is being extensively utilized by CRL to analyze PFAS in a variety of solid matrices. This method was approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as ASTM Standard D7968.

Data from multiple soil matrices will be presented displaying the accuracy and precision of various PFAS analytes and their isotopically-labeled PFAS surrogates. Accuracy will be displayed as matrix spike recovery data from various soil and solid matrices including, but not limited to: soils from two aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) impacted sites; soil-biosolids mixtures from a study on land application of biosolids; primary solids from a sewage treatment plant; commercial soils; commercially available compost; and sediments from the Great Lakes. Precision data from lab duplicates will also be presented. The presented soils/biosolids/sediments were selected in order to demonstrate the diverse range of matrices which have been measured using the analytical method.