Disposable Syringes for Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Environmental Extracts

Significance of Topic

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants requiring sensitive and accurate analytical methods. Disposable syringes can streamline sample preparation by eliminating extensive cleaning, reducing solvent consumption, and minimizing cross-contamination risks in low-level PFAS quantitation.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluated Agilent 10 mL Captiva disposable syringes (p/n 9301-6474) for PFAS analysis. Two experiments were conducted: one to assess background interferences from unused syringes, and another to examine potential adsorption losses at low analyte concentrations. The test panel included 23 PFAS targets and 17 isotopically labeled surrogates following EPA and ASTM guidelines.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Syringe extraction: Fill syringes with 10 mL 50:50 methanol/water, add 20 µL ammonium hydroxide (pH 9–10), cap and tumble for 1 hour.
• Post-extraction: Acidify to pH 3–4 with acetic acid, transfer 1 mL aliquot to autosampler vial for LC/MS/MS.
• Reference protocols: EPA SW-846 Method 8327, draft Method 8329; ASTM D7968-17a, D7979-19.

Instrumentation Used

• Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring mode.
• Luer-lock compatible filter assemblies for samples containing particulates.

Main Results and Discussion

• Background interference: All PFAS signals in five double-blank syringes were below ½ LLOQ (2.5 ng/L) without prior cleaning.
• Analyte recovery: At the LLOQ (5 ng/L), recoveries ranged between 50 % and 150 %; at the midlevel surrogate spike (80 ng/L), recoveries fell within 70 %–130 %.
• No significant adsorption losses were observed across the full suite of target compounds, confirming syringe material suitability.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Removal of time-intensive syringe cleaning steps accelerates workflow.
• Lower solvent usage and reduced disposal costs support sustainable laboratory practices.
• Enhanced reproducibility and throughput in routine PFAS monitoring laboratories.

Future Trends and Applications

As regulatory requirements tighten and novel PFAS emerge, disposable syringe technologies will evolve with advanced low-sorption materials. Integration with automated, high-throughput platforms and portable field systems could further expand on-site PFAS screening capabilities.

Conclusion

Agilent Captiva 10 mL disposable syringes deliver reliable performance for PFAS analysis, exhibiting minimal background contamination and consistent analyte recoveries. Their adoption simplifies sample preparation, reduces operational costs, and ensures data quality in environmental laboratories.

References

• EPA SW-846 Method 8327: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Using LC/MS/MS.
• ASTM D7968-17a and D7979-19: Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods for PFAS.
• Prevedouros K. et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006, 40(1), 32–44.
• Lath S. et al., Chemosphere 2019, 222, 671–678.
• Sörengård M. et al., J. Chromatogr. A 2020, 1609, 460–430.