Occurrence investigation of perfluorinated compounds in surface water from East Lake (Wuhan, China) upon rapid and selective magnetic solid-phase extraction.

Yusun Zhou,Tao Jing,Yikai Zhou,Huarong Li,Yun Tao,Surong Mei,Tingting Zhou

doi:10.1038/srep38633

Abstract

Using a novel magnetic nanocomposite as adsorbent, a convenient and effective magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) procedure was established for selective separation and concentration of nine perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in surface water sample. Then an ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system was employed for detection of PFCs. Good linearity of the developed analytical method was in the range of 0.5–100 ng L−1 with R2 > 0.9917, and the limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.029 to 0.099 ng L−1. At three fortified concentrations of 0.5, 5 and 50 ng L−1, the spiked recoveries of PFCs were in the range of 90.05–106.67% with RSDs < 12.62% (n = 3). The proposed analytical method was applied for determination of PFCs in surface water from East Lake (Wuhan, China). The total concentrations of nine PFCs ranged from 30.12 to 125.35 ng L−1, with perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluoroctanoic acid as the most prevalent PFCs, and the greatest concentrations of PFCs were observed in Niuchao lakelet. The concentrations of the PFCs (C ≥ 11) were mostly less than the limits of quantification (LOQs), attributed to the possibility that the more hydrophobic long-chain PFCs are potential to accumulate in sediment and aquatic biota.

Highlights

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of anthropogenic organofluorine chemicals, usually existing in two persistent forms of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), and their unique properties have made them useful in a number of industrial and commercial applications for more than 50 years[1,2]
perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are typically present at ng L−1 level in environmental waters, and the direct mass spectrometry analysis is difficult without separation and pre-concentration
Water samples were analyzed for nine PFCs, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)

Summary

Introduction

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of anthropogenic organofluorine chemicals, usually existing in two persistent forms of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), and their unique properties have made them useful in a number of industrial and commercial applications for more than 50 years[1,2]. Most recently, combining the selective recognition ability of F-F interaction and rapid magnetic separation property of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), two useful magnetite materials were prepared for extraction and pre-concentration of PFCs in surface water samples[24,25].

Results

Conclusion