title: Determination of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic, sulfonic, and phosphonic acids in food.
abstract: A sensitive and accurate method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, and phosphonic acids (PFPAs) at low picograms per gram concentrations in a variety of food matrices. The method employed extraction with acetonitrile/water and cleanup on a mixed-mode co-polymeric sorbent (C8 + quaternary amine) using solid-phase extraction. High-performance liquid chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column using a mobile phase gradient containing 5 mM 1-methyl piperidine for optimal chromatographic resolution of PFPAs. A quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometer operating in negative ion mode was used as detector. Method detection limits were in the range of 0.002 to 0.02 ng g(-1) for all analytes. Sample preparation (extraction and cleanup) recoveries at a spiking level of 0.1 ng g(-1) to a baby food composite were in the range of 59 to 98 %. A strong matrix effect was observed in the analysis of PFPAs in food extracts, which was tentatively assigned to sorption of PFPAs to the injection vial in the solvent-based calibration standard. The method was successfully applied to a range of different food matrices including duplicate diet samples, vegetables, meat, and fish samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alsberg
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vestergren
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D010757:Phosphorous Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010757:Phosphorous Acids; D013451:Sulfonic Acids