Determination of perfluorocarboxylic acids in aqueous matrices by ion-pair solid-phase microextraction-in-port derivatization-gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.
A rapid, selective and simple analytical procedure using tetrabutylammonium as ion pair in conjunction with solid-phase microextraction followed by in-port derivatization-GC-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry was developed. The procedure allows an accurate determination of perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids in aqueous samples at ng L(-1) levels (i.e. method detection limit 20 ng L(-1) forperfluorodecanoic acid) improving previous GC methods in terms of analysis time and sensitivity. Ammonia as reagent gas in the negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry increased the sensitivity at least 3-fold compared to methane for perfluorocarboxylic acid butyl esters. The developed procedure was successfully applied to effluents from wastewater treatment plants (i.e. 0.05-8.2 microg L(-1)) and harbor seawaters.
Alzaga
Roberto
R
IIQAB-CSIC Environmental Chemistry Department, Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
Bayona
Josep María
JM
D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012722:Sewage; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water