Syringe Filters and Autosampler Vials Impact on Analysis of Long-, Short-, and Ultrashort-Chain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a wide range of autosampler vials and syringe filters on quantitative analysis of long-, short-, and ultrashort-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in typically used solvents (water, natural organic matter (NOM), methanol, and acetonitrile). Mixed-PFAS solutions (100 μg L^–1) stored in different polypropylene and glass vials (24 h) exhibited comparably satisfactory recoveries (102 ± 16%), indicating negligible interferences by vials and insignificant dissimilarity among different vials. Use of snap cap vials resulted in solution evaporation, especially for organic solvents. Syringe filters had significant and multifaceted impacts on the PFAS analysis. Notably, with small filtered volumes (1.5 mL), nylon filters markedly adsorbed all tested PFAS regardless of solvents; in water, trifluoroacetic acid was the only ultrashort-chain PFAS considerably retained by cellulose acetate (63% adsorbed for 1.5 mL filtered); overall, in water, long-chain PFAS were more significantly retained by filters than short- and ultrashort-chain homologues; in some cases, using organic solvent enhanced recoveries; PFNA and PFOS were substantially retained by glass fiber filters when in NOM solutions. This study highlighted the inclusion of ultrashort-chain PFAS for which available information was few; our results underscored the importance of experimental validation before selecting analytical consumables for accurate PFAS analysis.

This is an essential reference/guidance for the selection of autosampler vials and syringe filters for the analysis of long-, short-, and ultrashort-chain PFAS.