Extraction and analytical challenges for PFAS in biosolids

Cawdell, Oliver

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109854 Copy

Description

Title

Extraction and analytical challenges for PFAS in biosolids

Author(s)

Cawdell, Oliver

Issue Date

2021-04-27

Keyword(s)

• PFAS
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
• biosolids

Abstract

Presented by: Oliver Cawdell – Technical Director at Vista Analytical Laboratory, ocawdell@vista-analytical.com Co-author: Martha Maier Abstract: Recent studies have shown that the discharge of wastewater effluent and biosolid sludges are significant transfer mechanisms of PFAS into the environment. Biosolids have been widely used on farms across North America for decades, spreading large amounts of PFAS into the environment and food chain. To mitigate this stringent monitoring is needed. However, biosolids remain a difficult matrix to analyze due to the mixed phases and high solids. This study assesses the best extraction procedure for biosolid samples. A Biosolid sample (5% solids) was collected from a sludge discharge location. This sample was split into 7 aliquots to test several emerging approaches in the current literature. Pretreatment by air drying was compared to centrifuging and analyzing the separate solid and aqueous fractions. A simple methanol extraction was compared to, ion pair and alkaline digestions to assess recovery changes for individual PFAS. All aqueous phases were extracted by SPE. Finally, an estimation of the extraction efficiency and the optimal number of extractions needed to maximize recovery was made. A suite of up to 41 PFAS were targeted and all samples were analyzed via Waters UPLC and isotope dilution. Biography: Oliver has 10 years experience working within the analytical geochemistry field specializing in organic contaminants. He is the Technical director at Vista Analytical Laboratory who specialize in the analysis of PFAS in environmental matrices using isotope dilution.

Series/Report Name or Number

2021 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC21)

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109854
• https://youtu.be/BjqQbGa3WlA

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