A Method for PFAS Analysis in Drinking and Nonpotable Waters Using the Agilent 6495 LC/MS System

Abstract

A comprehensive liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of 47 perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with the intention to accelerate and simplify routine laboratory water testing. Compound transitions and optimized parameters were applied to the analytical method. The method suitability was demonstrated using an Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC system coupled to an Agilent 6495 triple quadrupole LC/MS on water, surface water, and ground water, using direct injection of samples.

Method performance was evaluated and validated according to ISO 17025 based on instrument limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), calibration curve linearity, uncertainty of measurement (UoM) recovery, and precision using calibration standards up to 0.25 μg/L. All 47 of the analytes demonstrated linearity with R2 ≥0.995. Method precision was assessed using relative standard deviation (RSD). RSD at 0.1 and 0.02 μg/L for all compounds were within the limit of 12.5% and mean recoveries were within the limits of 75 to 125% for all target analytes; UoM values were <60% for all compounds.