Title : Development and evaluation of a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for PFAS in environmental matrices: Biomass, soil and water
Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the most persistent environmental contaminants of our time. Due to their widespread use and exceptional chemical stability, PFAS are detected globally in various environmental compartments, including soil, water, biomass and living organisms. Their persistence and potential accumulation in environmental matrices raise significant concerns regarding environmental monitoring, remediation and waste management. The accumulation of PFAS is raising questions about its safe processing and potential valorisation. Reliable analytical methods are therefore essential to assess PFAS contamination in these diverse and often complex matrices.
This research focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method for the detection of PFAS in biomass, soil and water. Unlike conventional targeted analytical techniques, Py-GC/MS offers the potential to detect a broader range of PFAS-related compounds through their characteristic thermal degradation products. It investigates the thermal behaviour of different PFAS groups and carbon chain lengths, with emphasis on the influence of molecular structure on pyrolysis pathways and resulting mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns. Differences in functional groups and carbon chain length are examined to understand their impact on the formation of characteristic degradation products. By comparing the fragmentation patterns and chromatographic retention behaviour of various PFAS, the study aims to identify distinctive features that enable differentiation between PFAS groups and chain lengths. This approach may improve the interpretation of complex chromatograms and expand the applicability of Py-GC/MS for screening long-chain, short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFAS in diverse environmental matrices, such as soil, water and biomass. Ultimately, the findings may contribute to improved PFAS monitoring strategies and provide valuable insights into the contamination of biomass, soil and water, supporting future decisions regarding environmental remediation, biomass management and resource recovery.
