Presentation Profile
Beyond Targeted PFAS Analysis: Non-Targeted Fluorine Screening by Combustion–Ion Chromatography
Main Author
Carl Fisher - Thermo Fisher Scientific
Abstract:
Targeted LC-MS/MS methods quantify known PFAS but may not capture unknown compounds, precursors, polymers, or fluorinated substances lacking analytical standards. Combustion–ion chromatography offers a complementary screening approach by converting organofluorine compounds to fluoride for ion chromatographic measurement. This presentation highlights its use for adsorbable organic fluorine analysis in wastewater following U.S. EPA Method 1621 and for total organic fluorine analysis in textiles, food-contact materials, and cosmetics. Together, these applications demonstrate how non-targeted fluorine screening can identify samples containing substantial organically bound fluorine and help prioritize them for compound-specific follow-up analysis.
