CAS: Portable Absorbable Organic Fluorine Analysis for Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance Guided Sampling

在化学系化学测量和成像（CMI）项目的支持下，来自德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校（UTA）的Charles P. Shelor和他的学生打算建造一种便携式仪器，用于测量现场的聚和全氟烷基物质（PFAS）。PFAS是一类用于灭火泡沫和清洁产品的人造化学品。 PFAS由于其环境稳定性而经常被称为“永久”化学品。因此，它们在环境中积累，对后代构成挑战。此外，某些类型的PFAS可能会对健康构成重大风险。通常，PFAS通过液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）测量，这是一种高度复杂且昂贵的仪器。由于资本设备的成本和每次分析的成本很高，农村和较不富裕社区的污染程度往往是未知的。此外，受严重影响的地区，如工业中心、垃圾填埋场等，对边缘化社区的影响尤为严重。该项目旨在开发一种能够可靠地测量总有机氟的廉价仪器，该仪器将作为PFAS的侦察替代品，以便在必要时由后者进行详细分析。所设想的仪器的大小和重量使其非常适合于在实地跟踪污染羽流，从而能够作出真实的时间决定和确定污染源。通过迅速确定问题的严重程度，将有助于采取补救措施，保护公众健康。正在开发的仪器首先选择性地将水中的全氟辛烷磺酸浓缩到过滤器上。该项目旨在开发和功能化过滤介质。过滤器上的PFAS将使用放电产生的聚焦等离子体进行矿化。等离子体产生高能物质以分解PFAS化合物。然后消化液通过微型固相萃取柱，该柱对氟化物具有高亲和力。然后在小型化填充毛细管离子色谱仪或开管离子色谱仪（OTIC）上进行分离。虽然填充毛细管系统使用市售组件，但预计OTIC系统的灵敏度将提高约100倍。此外，由于重量更轻，功耗更低，因此OTIC更加便携。如果成功的话，该仪器的开发和部署预计将对PFAS的数据采集产生重大影响，特别是在全国各地的偏远地区或农村地区。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) Program in the Division of Chemistry, Charles P. Shelor and his students from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) intend to build a portable instrument for measuring poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the field. PFAS are a class man-made chemicals utilized in fire-fighting foams and cleaning products. PFAS have often been referred to as “forever” chemicals due to their environmental stability. As such, they accumulate in the environment and pose a challenge for generations to come. In addition, some types of PFAS may pose significant health risks. Typically, PFAS are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), a highly sophisticated and expensive instrument. Due to the high cost of capital equipment and the cost per analysis, the extent of contamination of rural and less affluent communities is often unknown. Further, heavily affected areas such as industrial centers, landfills, etc. disproportionately affect marginalized communities. This project aims to develop an inexpensive instrument capable of reliably measuring total organic fluorine that would serve as a scouting surrogate for PFAS, such that detailed analyses could an be carried by the latter when warranted. The size and weight of the envisioned instrument makes it well suited for tracking contamination plumes in the field enabling real time decisions and source attribution. By rapidly identifying the extent of the problem, remediation measures towards protecting public health would be facilitated.The instrument being developed first selectively concentrates PFAS from water on a filter. The project intends to develop and functionalize the filter media. The PFAS on the filter will be mineralized using a focused plasma produced by discharge. The plasma generates energetic species to break down PFAS compounds. The digest solution then passes through miniature solid phase extraction cartridge which has high affinity for fluoride. Separation is then performed on either a miniaturized packed capillary ion chromatograph or open tubular ion chromatograph (OTIC). While the packed capillary system uses commercially available components, the OTIC system is expected to offer an approximately 100-fold improvement in sensitivity. Additionally, the OTIC is more portable due to the lower weight and reduced power requirements. If successful, development and deployment of this instrument is expected to make a significant impact on data acquisition for PFAS, particularly in isolated or in rural areas around the country.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.