ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Determination of Perfluorinated Compounds in Soil by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)
 N D7968

Annotation

This procedure covers the determination of selected perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in a soil matrix using solvent extraction, filtration, followed by liquid chromatography (LC) and detection with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). These analytes are qualitatively and quantitatively determined by this method. This method adheres to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry. This procedure utilizes a quick extraction and is not intended to generate an exhaustive accounting of the content of PFCs in difficult soil matrices. An exhaustive extraction procedure for polyfluoralkyl substances, such as published by Washington et al.2, for difficult matrices should be considered when analyzing PFCs.

Units-The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

The Method of Detection Limit3 and Reporting Range4 for the target analytes are listed in Table 1.

The reporting limit in this test method is the minimum value below which data are documented as non-detects. Analyte detections between the method detection limit and the reporting limit are estimated concentrations and are not reported following this test method. In most cases, the reporting limit is calculated from the concentration of the Level 1 calibration standard as shown in Table 2 for the perfluorinated compounds after taking into account a 2 g sample weight and a final extract volume of 10 mL, 50 % water/50 % MeOH with 0.1 % acetic acid. The final extract volume is assumed to be 10 mL because 10 mL of 50 % water/50 % MeOH with 0.1 % acetic acid was added to each soil sample and only the liquid layer after extraction is filtered leaving the solid and any residual solvent behind. It is raised above the Level 1 calibration concentration for PFOS, PFHxA, FHEA, and FOEA, these compounds can be identified at the Level 1 concentration but the standard deviation among replicates at this lower spike level resulted in a higher reporting limit.