Determination of organically bound fluorine sum parameters in river water samples\u2014comparison of combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS)

Lennart Gehrenkemper,Antje Cossmer,Marcus Von Der Au,Christian Vogel,Jens Pfeifer,Franz-Georg Simon,Emily Fischer,Philipp Wittwer,Björn Meermann,Fabian Simon,Philipp Roesch

doi:10.1007/s00216-020-03010-y

Lennart Gehrenkemper, Antje Cossmer + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-03010-y

Copy DOI

Abstract

In this study, we compare combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) with respect to their applicability for determining organically bound fluorine sum parameters. Extractable (EOF) and adsorbable (AOF) organically bound fluorine as well as total fluorine (TF) were measured in samples from river Spree in Berlin, Germany, to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques used as well as the two established fluorine sum parameters AOF and EOF. TF concentrations determined via HR-CS-GFMAS and CIC were comparable between 148 and 270 μg/L. On average, AOF concentrations were higher than EOF concentrations, with AOF making up 0.14–0.81% of TF (determined using CIC) and EOF 0.04–0.28% of TF (determined using HR-CS-GFMAS). The results obtained by the two independent methods were in good agreement. It turned out that HR-CS-GFMAS is a more sensitive and precise method for fluorine analysis compared to CIC. EOF and AOF are comparable tools in risk evaluation for the emerging pollutants per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances; however, EOF is much faster to conduct.Graphical abstract

Highlights

Substitution of hydrogen with fluorine in organic molecules affects their chemical and physical properties, e.g., increasedLennart Gehrenkemper and Fabian Simon contributed to this work as first authors.[17], and that there are potential negative effects on the environment and human health [18] lead to first limitations
One Extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF) sample out of a triplicate was below CICB limit of quantification (LOQ) and ten Adsorbable organically bound fluorine (AOF) samples out of the triplicates were below the CICKO LOQ
According to the obtained limit of detection (LOD) and LOQ, all instrumental methods are suitable for total fluorine (TF) and EOF determination

Summary

Introduction

Substitution of hydrogen with fluorine in organic molecules affects their chemical and physical properties, e.g., increasedLennart Gehrenkemper and Fabian Simon contributed to this work as first authors.[17], and that there are potential negative effects on the environment and human health [18] lead to first limitations. Since 2009, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and, since 2019, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are listed in annexes of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants [19]. For these reasons, the production and use of PFOS and PFOA must be reduced respectively avoided [19]. The huge amount of different PFASs (> 4700 [22]) and this replacement lead to new analytical challenges. Because of their extreme persistence and vast anthropogenic emission, PFASs are emerging pollutants

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion