<p><strong>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have earned the moniker "forever chemicals" due to their extreme persistence in the environment. Their detection is crucial for protecting public health and the environment as these synthetic compounds continue to pose significant challenges worldwide. This comprehensive exploration examines why PFAS detection matters, current detection methods, and future directions in addressing PFAS contamination.</strong></p><h3><strong>Understanding PFAS and Their Health Impacts</strong></h3><p>PFAS are a class of synthetic organic compounds with diverse structures, properties, and uses. Despite their diversity, all PFAS contain perfluoroalkyl moieties that are extremely resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation [1]. This high persistence is a defining characteristic that makes PFAS management particularly challenging.</p><h3><strong>Documented Health Effects</strong></h3><p>Current scientific research has linked PFAS exposure to numerous adverse health outcomes:</p><ul><li>Reproductive effects including decreased fertility and increased high blood pressure in pregnant women [8]</li><li>Developmental effects in children such as low birth weight, accelerated puberty, and behavioral changes [8]</li><li>Reduced immune system function, including decreased vaccine response</li><li>Interference with natural hormones and endocrine disruption</li><li>Increased cholesterol levels and obesity risk</li><li>Increased risk of several cancers, including prostate, kidney, testicular, oral cavity/pharynx, brain, and endocrine cancers [3]</li></ul><p>A 2023 study linked PFAS-contaminated water with up to a <strong>33% increase in cancer incidence</strong> in affected areas [3]. The study compared regions with elevated PFAS levels to cancer data from the National Cancer Institute, finding higher incidences of various cancers after controlling for factors like smoking and obesity.</p><h3><strong>Environmental Persistence and Contamination</strong></h3><p>The extreme persistence of PFAS represents a fundamental concern for environmental management. PFAS are considered the most environmentally persistent substances among organic chemicals [7]. This persistence means that even if all PFAS uses were immediately phased out, existing contamination would continue to affect ecosystems and water supplies for generations.</p><p>A 2023 study at a military fire training site estimated that PFAS contamination will persist for centuries without remediation [7]. The research found that terminal PFAS still exceed regulatory limits by 2000-fold decades after aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) use ceased, with precursors accounting for around half of the extractable organofluorine across years.</p><h3><strong>Current Detection Methods</strong></h3><h4><strong>EPA Standardized Methods</strong></h4><p>The<strong> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA</strong>) has developed several standardized methods for PFAS detection, each with specific applications and capabilities:</p><h5><strong>EPA Method 533</strong></h5><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/epa-533-drying-down-pfas-samples-after-spe"><strong>EPA Method 533</strong></a> focuses on "short chain" PFAS with carbon chain lengths of<strong> C4 to C12</strong>. Released in December 2019, this method complements Method 537.1 and includes several key features:</p><ul><li>Uses isotope dilution quantification approach with extracted internal standards, which reduces overall analytical uncertainty</li><li>Employs weak anion exchange solid phase extraction cartridges as opposed to polystyrene divinylbenzene used in 537.1</li><li>Can analyze 25 PFAS compounds, including additional short-chain PFAS that were not apart of Method 537.1</li><li>Allows for longer holding times: 28 days to extraction and 28 days to analyze (compared to 14 days to extraction in Method 537.1)</li><li>Uses ammonium acetate as a preservative (versus Trisma in Method 537.1) [1]</li></ul><h5><strong>EPA Method 537/537.1</strong></h5><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/sample-concentration-epa-method-537-pfas-determination"><strong>EPA Method 537 </strong></a>was first published in 2009 for the determination of 14 PFAS in drinking water [6]. It was later updated to Method 537.1 in 2018 (with editorial updates in 2020) to expand its capabilities:</p><ul><li>Uses<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.organomation.com/what-is-solid-phase-extraction-spe"><strong> solid phase extraction (SPE) </strong></a>and<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.organomation.com/preparing-samples-for-lc-ms/ms-analysis"><strong> liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)</strong></a></li><li>Method 537.1 expanded detection to 18 PFAS compounds, including HFPO-DA (one component of GenX technology)</li><li>Utilizes styrene-divinylbenzene (SDVB) media for extraction</li><li>Requires samples to be extracted within 14 days and analyzed within 28 days</li><li>Methanol is used to elute the extracts. This should then be reconstituted with a 96:4 methanol:water mixture [1]</li></ul><p>Together, Methods 533 and 537.1 can detect a total of <strong>29 unique PFAS compounds in drinking water </strong>and are approved for monitoring under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) and the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation [1] [3].</p><h5><strong>EPA Method 1633</strong></h5><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/preparing-diverse-sample-matrices-for-epa-method-1633"><strong>EPA Method 1633</strong></a>, released in 2024, represents a significant advancement in PFAS analysis:</p><ul><li>Developed for the analysis of <strong>40 PFAS compounds </strong>in various matrices, including surface water, groundwater, wastewater, soil, biosolids, sediment, landfill leachate, and fish tissue</li><li>Expands beyond the drinking water focus of Methods 533 and 537.1</li><li>Provides a standardized approach that may replace modified drinking water methods (i.e., modified EPA 537) that were previously used for non-drinking water matrices [1]</li></ul><h4><strong>Conventional Analytical Techniques</strong></h4><p>The gold standard for PFAS analysis involves chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry:</p><ul><li>Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the most widely used method for PFAS analysis, offering high sensitivity and specificity [1]</li><li>High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) allows for rapid detection and identification of PFAS species at very low concentrations [5]</li></ul><p>These techniques can detect PFAS at parts per trillion (ppt) levels, which is essential given the low concentrations at which PFAS can cause health effects [1]. However, these methods require sophisticated equipment, specialized training, and significant financial resources, making them inaccessible in many regions, particularly in developing countries.</p><h4><strong>Emerging Detection Technologies</strong></h4><p>Several innovative approaches are being developed to address the limitations of conventional methods:</p><ul><li>Electrochemical biosensors using modified electrodes have shown promise for selective PFAS detection with low detection limits [2]</li><li>Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) uses metallic nanoparticles and can be made into a portable method for on-site testing [1]</li><li>Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer thermal and physical stability, reusability, and low-cost synthesis for PFAS detection [6]</li></ul><p>These emerging technologies aim to provide more accessible, field-deployable, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional laboratory-based methods.</p><h3><strong>Challenges in PFAS Detection</strong></h3><h4><strong>Analytical Challenges</strong></h4><p>Detecting PFAS presents several technical challenges:</p><ul><li>The ubiquity of PFAS in laboratory equipment and accessories can lead to background contamination when measuring at parts-per-trillion levels [1]</li><li>Many components in liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and solid-phase extraction systems contain materials that can leach PFAS compounds [9]</li><li>The vast number of PFAS (thousands of compounds) makes comprehensive detection difficult, as analytical standards are only available for a small subset [1]</li><li>Complex matrices like food and environmental samples require sophisticated sample preparation techniques</li></ul><h4><strong>Global Disparities in Detection Capabilities</strong></h4><p>Access to PFAS detection technology varies significantly worldwide:</p><ul><li>Many developing regions, particularly in Africa, lack adequately equipped laboratories with the necessary instrumentation to detect and measure PFAS</li><li>There is often a scarcity of qualified professionals with experience in PFAS analysis in these regions</li><li>The high cost of acquiring and maintaining sophisticated analytical instruments presents a substantial obstacle to conducting extensive PFAS investigations in resource-limited settings [1]</li><li>Competing priorities such as infectious diseases, poverty, and food security often divert attention and resources from environmental pollutants like PFAS</li></ul><h4><strong>Regulatory Landscape and Compliance</strong></h4><p>The regulatory framework for PFAS is evolving rapidly worldwide:</p><ul><li>The EPA finalized Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act in September 2024, requiring manufacturers and importers to report on their use of PFAS since 2011 [10]</li><li>Electronic reporting for PFAS will open on July 11, 2025, with final reporting deadlines in 2026</li><li>Companies must report detailed information including chemical identity, production volumes, industrial and consumer products, worker exposure, and disposal methods [10]</li></ul><p>These regulations are driving demand for more effective and accessible PFAS detection methods to ensure compliance and protect public health.</p><h3><strong>Future Directions in PFAS Detection</strong></h3><h4><strong>Technological Advancements</strong></h4><p>The future of PFAS detection lies in developing more accessible, sensitive, and comprehensive methods:</p><ul><li>Non-targeted screening methods that can identify unknown PFAS compounds without requiring analytical standards for each specific compound</li><li>Total fluorine analysis techniques like Adsorbable Organic Fluorine and Total Oxidizable Precursor Assay that can quantify the presence of fluorine atoms within a sample [1]</li><li>Portable sensors and field-deployable technologies that enable on-site monitoring and rapid response to contamination events</li><li>AI-driven solutions that can improve data analysis and interpretation for complex PFAS mixtures</li></ul><h4><strong>Collaborative Approaches</strong></h4><p>Addressing the global challenge of PFAS detection requires coordinated efforts:</p><ul><li>International partnerships between researchers in developed and developing regions to enhance expertise and capacity building</li><li>Standardization of analytical methods to ensure consistency and comparability of results across different laboratories and regions</li><li>Open data sharing and collaboration across countries to leverage collective knowledge and resources</li><li>Integration of PFAS monitoring into broader environmental and public health surveillance systems</li></ul><h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3><p>The detection of PFAS is not merely a technical challenge but a critical public health and environmental imperative [1]. As these "forever chemicals" continue to persist in our environment, developing effective, accessible, and comprehensive detection methods becomes increasingly important. By advancing detection technologies, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and fostering global collaboration, we can better understand, monitor, and ultimately mitigate the impacts of PFAS contamination.</p><p>The EPA's standardized methods (533, 537.1, and 1633) provide crucial tools for monitoring PFAS in various environmental matrices, but continued innovation is needed to address the full spectrum of PFAS compounds and to make detection more accessible globally [1] [6]. The path forward requires sustained investment in research and development, capacity building in resource-limited settings, and a commitment to environmental justice that ensures all communities have access to the tools and information needed to protect themselves from PFAS exposure. Only through such comprehensive approaches can we hope to address the complex challenges posed by these persistent pollutants.</p><p><span>Be sure to check out our other installments of our&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/introducing-our-environmental-contaminants-series-making-sense-of-the-alphabet-soup"><span>Environmental Contaminant Series</span></a><span>&nbsp;covering&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/the-importance-of-detecting-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops"><span>Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)</span></a><span>,&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/the-importance-of-detecting-polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons-pahs"><span>Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)</span></a><span>,&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/the-importance-of-detecting-semi-volatile-organic-compounds-svocs"><span>Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs)</span></a><span>, and </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.organomation.com/blog/the-importance-of-detecting-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs"><span>Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)</span></a><span>.</span></p>

The Importance of Detecting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

<p><strong>Scientists at CEITEC Brno University of Technology have developed microscopic robots that could one day accelerate beer production and simplify food quality control. The magnetically controlled biobots can actively mix liquids during fermentation, speed up the process, and separate themselves from the finished product once fermentation is complete. The results of the research, carried out by Professor Martin Pumera’s team, were published in the journal </strong><i><strong>ACS Nano</strong></i><strong>.</strong></p><p><i>“When people hear the word ‘robot’ today, they often imagine an electronic device. In reality, however, a robot can be any system capable of autonomously performing a specific task,” </i>explains <strong>Martin Pumera of CEITEC Brno University of Technology</strong>.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_7d9ff82875.jpeg" alt="CEITEC BUT/Jakub Rozboud: CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control: Martin Pumera in his lab at CEITEC BUT." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_7d9ff82875.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1067"></p><p>The research team created so-called biobots—biohybrid microrobotic capsules containing brewer’s yeast and magnetic nanoparticles. When the yeast produces carbon dioxide during fermentation, the resulting bubbles cause the biobots to move up and down through the liquid. This naturally mixes the contents of the vessel and makes fermentation more efficient. Compared with conventional static particles, the biobots can therefore accelerate chemical processes that are important in food production.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_4_af5fd4611f.jpg" alt="CEITEC BUT/Martin Pumera's archive: CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control: Hematite microrobot (image for illustrative purposes)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_4_af5fd4611f.jpg 209w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1192"></p><p>Another major advantage of the technology is that the biobots can be easily separated from the finished beverage. Thanks to the magnetic particles they contain, they can be controlled with a magnetic field and removed once fermentation is complete, eliminating the need for additional filtration. The researchers also demonstrated that the biobots can be reused over several production cycles.</p><p><i>“Unlike conventional static particles, microrobots actively move throughout the entire volume of the liquid, allowing them to cover a larger area and make the whole process more efficient. At the same time, they also facilitate the automation of production,”</i> adds Martin Pumera. The team is currently discussing potential applications of the technology with a major European brewery.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_3_e8e5a3a55a.jpg" alt="CEITEC BUT/Martin Pumera's archive: CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control: g-C₃N₄ microrobots (image for illustrative purposes)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_3_e8e5a3a55a.jpg 158w," sizes="100vw" width="1476" height="1460"></p><p>Martin Pumera’s group has long been exploring the use of microrobots and advanced materials in the food industry. In the past, for example, the team developed a flexible sensor for smart packaging capable of detecting spoiled fish. The new biobots therefore represent another step towards more advanced methods of food quality and safety control.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_2_75c7fed958.jpeg" alt="CEITEC BUT/ACS Nano: CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control: ACS Nano - cover featuring article by Martin Pumera et al." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Mikroroboti_z_CEITEC_mohou_urychlit_vyrobu_piva_i_kontrolu_kvality_potravin_2_75c7fed958.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2128"></p>

 CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control 

<p><strong>In this episode of ‪ChromatographyTalk‬, ‪Organomation‬ General Manager David Oliva sits down with Michelle Taylor, Editor-in-Chief of LabCompare, to go behind the scenes of their groundbreaking two-part documentary series on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).</strong></p><p>The conversation kicks off with a startling revelation: many of the world’s leading PFAS experts have completely stopped eating seafood due to high contamination levels discovered during testing. From there, we dive deep into the technical and regulatory challenges facing today's analytical laboratories.</p><h4><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>The Laboratory Throughput Crisis:</strong> Why labs are currently "overwhelmed with samples" and how tiered testing—using single quad instruments for screening before moving to triple quads—is helping to manage capacity without sacrificing sensitivity.</li><li><strong>The Battle Against Background Contamination:</strong> Why PTFE-free (PFAS-free) laboratory equipment is no longer optional when trying to detect "forever chemicals" at the parts-per-trillion and parts-per-quadrillion levels.</li><li><strong>Complex Matrices (Seafood &amp; Packaging): </strong>The technical hurdles of analyzing high-lipid samples like fish and the rising demand for migration testing as states like Rhode Island begin to phase out PFAS in food packaging.</li><li><strong>Global Regulatory Shifts:</strong> A look at the "dual compliance model" required for labs supporting international exporters, especially with the European Union’s stricter enforcement compared to the U.S. monitoring approach.</li><li><strong>The "Grand Challenge" of Unknowns: </strong>How EPA Method 1621 (Total Organic Fluorine) is helping labs close the mass balance gap and why the next generation of bench chemists must embrace *AI and data science* to manage the massive datasets generated by high-resolution mass spectrometry.</li><li><strong>PFAS Destruction vs. Remediation:</strong> &nbsp;The promising (and problematic) methods for breaking the carbon-fluorine bond, and why incineration may inadvertently be spreading shorter-chain PFAS into the air.</li></ul><p>Whether you are a lab manager looking to future-proof your workflow or a chemist navigating the ever-evolving landscape of EPA Method 1633, this episode provides essential insights into the most pressing environmental crisis of our time.</p><h3><strong>Video Transcription</strong></h3><h4><strong>Michelle Taylor: PFAS Testing Is Becoming a Much Bigger Analytical Challenge</strong></h4><p><strong>PFAS analysis has rapidly evolved from a specialized environmental testing problem into a much broader challenge involving drinking water, food, packaging, laboratory contamination, international regulation, data analysis, and even destruction technologies. In an interview with Michelle Taylor, Editor-in-Chief of Labcompare, the discussion explored what laboratories are learning from the latest PFAS research—and why the analytical demands are likely to continue growing.</strong></p><p>Taylor leads editorial content for <strong>Labcompare</strong>, an online resource covering analytical laboratory instrumentation, products, and scientific developments. Among the projects she considers particularly important are two long-form documentaries produced by Labcompare examining per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), first through drinking water and subsequently through food.</p><p>The documentaries brought together subject-matter experts working across PFAS analysis and exposed some of the practical realities laboratories now face: rapidly changing regulations, extremely low detection limits, complex matrices, contamination risks, and sample volumes that can overwhelm laboratory capacity.</p><h4><strong>From drinking water to seafood</strong></h4><p>One of the most memorable findings for Taylor came during production of the second documentary, which focused on PFAS in food.</p><p>Several experts interviewed for the project told her they had stopped eating seafood, in some cases many years earlier, because of concerns surrounding contamination. For Taylor, the consistency and immediacy of those responses illustrated how closely analytical research can intersect with everyday decisions.</p><p>Seafood also demonstrates why PFAS testing can become analytically difficult.</p><p>Fish and other high-lipid samples require effective extraction to release the analytes, followed by rigorous cleanup to remove fats. According to the experts Taylor interviewed, the cleanup step is particularly critical because residual lipids can damage LC columns and create severe matrix interferences.</p><p>Laboratories are therefore using approaches such as enhanced matrix removal and carbon- or silica-based sorbents to reduce the lipid content of extracts before instrumental analysis. The goal is not simply obtaining sufficient recovery, but producing an extract clean enough to maintain analytical performance and laboratory throughput.</p><h4><strong>How laboratories are handling the PFAS sample burden</strong></h4><p>The analytical sensitivity now required for PFAS testing presents another challenge: laboratories may need to measure compounds at <strong>parts-per-trillion levels</strong> while processing growing numbers of samples.</p><p>Automation has therefore become increasingly important, particularly during sample preparation, where repetitive manual procedures can otherwise create a major bottleneck.</p><p>Taylor also described a <strong>tiered analytical strategy</strong> being used by some laboratories. A less demanding measurement can first be used for screening, while samples generating a positive result are subsequently transferred to a more sensitive platform, such as triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry, for confirmation and quantitation.</p><p>This type of workflow can help laboratories concentrate their highest-performance instrumentation on the samples that actually require it rather than applying the most intensive analysis to every incoming sample.</p><p>The broader principle is likely to become increasingly important as PFAS testing expands: laboratories must find ways to increase throughput without sacrificing the sensitivity demanded by regulatory methods.</p><h4><strong>When the laboratory itself becomes a source of PFAS</strong></h4><p>At trace concentrations, contamination introduced during sample preparation or measurement can become comparable to the concentration being determined.</p><p>This makes the materials used throughout the analytical workflow particularly important.</p><p>Taylor emphasized that PFAS laboratories must maintain continuous awareness of potential contamination from <strong>solvents, water, tubing, containers, and other laboratory components</strong>. Equipment containing fluoropolymers such as PTFE may be problematic in certain PFAS workflows because background contamination can contribute to false positives or elevated blanks.</p><p>As detection limits move lower, dedicated PFAS-compatible or fluoropolymer-free laboratory equipment becomes increasingly valuable.</p><p>Taylor described manufacturers offering clearly identified PFAS-free configurations as an important response to this problem. Rather than forcing laboratories to investigate the material composition of each component individually, dedicated configurations can simplify method implementation and reduce uncertainty about potential background sources.</p><p>For laboratories already dealing with demanding workflows and large sample loads, eliminating potential contamination before it occurs can save considerable troubleshooting time.</p><h4><strong>Food packaging could drive the next major wave of testing</strong></h4><p>PFAS concerns are not limited to the food itself.</p><p>The interview also examined <strong>food-contact materials</strong>, including takeout containers and other packaging from which PFAS may migrate into food. State-level restrictions in the United States are already beginning to affect the materials manufacturers can use.</p><p>For contract laboratories, this creates the possibility of another significant increase in demand for compliance and migration testing.</p><p>Taylor’s recommendation is straightforward: laboratories should follow proposed regulations before they become final.</p><p>Waiting until a new requirement takes effect can leave a laboratory simultaneously trying to acquire instrumentation, establish methods, train staff, and respond to customer demand. Monitoring regulatory agencies, scientific meetings, and industry discussions earlier gives laboratories time to prepare analytical capabilities before the testing requirement becomes urgent.</p><p>She expects PFAS restrictions in food packaging to continue developing first through a patchwork of individual state regulations. Once a sufficient number of states adopt restrictions, however, the economics may increasingly encourage suppliers to move toward PFAS-free materials regardless of whether every jurisdiction requires them.</p><p>A national standard could eventually follow that transition.</p><h4><strong>One sample, two regulatory environments</strong></h4><p>International food exporters face another complication: <strong>PFAS requirements are not necessarily the same between the United States and European Union</strong>.</p><p>Taylor noted that laboratories serving both markets may effectively need to operate under a dual-compliance model.</p><p>In the interview, she highlighted EU requirements targeting specific PFAS—including <strong>PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS</strong>—at very low concentrations in certain foods, while the U.S. approach has historically involved a different combination of monitoring programs, evolving compound lists, and import-related requirements.</p><p>For laboratories supporting international customers, this means more than simply selecting a different reporting limit.</p><p>Different markets may require different target lists, methods, documentation, auditing, and compliance procedures. Laboratories therefore need analytical platforms capable of ultratrace measurements while also maintaining the operational flexibility to support multiple regulatory frameworks.</p><p>That additional complexity also carries a practical cost: performing different protocols for different jurisdictions means more staff time, additional workflow management, and potentially greater instrument demand.</p><h4><strong>Total fluorine screening can help laboratories decide what to analyze next</strong></h4><p>Targeted LC-MS/MS methods are highly sensitive, but they only measure compounds included in the analytical panel.</p><p>This creates an important question: <strong>what about fluorinated substances that are present but are not included in the targeted method?</strong></p><p>The interview discussed <strong>EPA Method 1621</strong>, which uses a broader fluorine-based screening approach. Taylor described this type of measurement as useful for helping laboratories assess the gap between compounds captured by targeted LC-MS/MS methods and the broader amount of organofluorine present in a sample.</p><p>Such screening can also become part of a tiered workflow.</p><p>For applications such as food packaging, laboratories could initially use a broader fluorine measurement to determine whether a sample warrants further investigation. Positive or suspicious samples could then move to more selective and sensitive targeted analysis for identification and quantitation.</p><p>Non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry can add another layer by revealing compounds outside conventional target lists.</p><p>Together, these approaches create a funnel from broad screening toward increasingly detailed characterization rather than attempting the most comprehensive analysis on every sample from the outset.</p><h4><strong>PFAS analysis is becoming a data problem too</strong></h4><p>High-resolution mass spectrometry can generate enormous datasets containing signals from large numbers of known and unknown compounds.</p><p>As a result, Taylor believes the role of the analytical chemist is changing.</p><p>Strong laboratory skills remain essential, but scientists increasingly need <strong>data literacy</strong> as well. Understanding complex datasets, working with advanced software, and interacting effectively with artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools are becoming important parts of modern analytical work.</p><p>Taylor does not see this change primarily as replacing scientific expertise.</p><p>Instead, she compares it with earlier laboratory automation: repetitive or technically demanding tasks can increasingly be handled by software, allowing scientists to spend more time interpreting results and making decisions.</p><p>AI may also make sophisticated analytical information more accessible. A less experienced mass spectrometry user could potentially receive explanations of complex data through software capable of presenting results in natural language, reducing dependence on a single specialist being immediately available.</p><p>There is another potential advantage beyond speed.</p><p>Machine-learning systems can recognize patterns across large datasets that may be difficult or impossible for an individual scientist to detect manually. As analytical datasets become larger and multidimensional, that pattern-recognition capability could become increasingly valuable.</p><h4><strong>Finding PFAS is only the first half of the problem</strong></h4><p>For years, much of the PFAS discussion has focused on answering two questions:</p><ul><li><strong>Are PFAS present, and how much is there?</strong></li></ul><p>The next challenge is considerably harder: <strong>how do we actually remove or destroy them?</strong></p><p>Taylor described this as an expanding research field that will increasingly involve analytical laboratories.</p><p>The strength of the carbon-fluorine bond makes PFAS destruction difficult. Some treatment approaches seek to break this bond and achieve complete defluorination, but incomplete destruction can create another analytical problem.</p><p>For example, thermal treatment may transform longer-chain PFAS into shorter-chain fluorinated compounds rather than eliminating them completely. Those products may then enter another environmental compartment, including atmospheric emissions.</p><p>Consequently, laboratories studying PFAS destruction must do more than measure disappearance of the original compound. They also need to determine whether <strong>fluorinated transformation products or other byproducts remain</strong>.</p><p>Analytical chemistry therefore has two roles: monitoring PFAS contamination and demonstrating whether remediation technologies truly destroy the substances they are intended to remove.</p><h4><strong>The PFAS problem is expanding beyond water and food</strong></h4><p>The first two Labcompare documentaries focused primarily on <strong>water and food</strong>, two matrices already receiving substantial regulatory and public attention.</p><p>But Taylor does not expect the story to end there.</p><p>If Labcompare produces another PFAS documentary, she sees <strong>PFAS in air</strong> as a likely subject. Discussions with experts during earlier filming repeatedly raised atmospheric contamination, including both direct environmental occurrence and emissions potentially associated with treatment or destruction processes.</p><p>The progression illustrates how quickly the PFAS field is expanding.</p><p>Drinking water regulation accelerated analytical development. Food testing introduced more difficult matrices and new exposure pathways. Packaging is creating another compliance challenge. Environmental remediation raises questions about destruction products. Atmospheric monitoring could become another significant frontier.</p><p>For laboratories already working with chromatography and mass spectrometry, Taylor’s message is essentially to be prepared—even organizations that do not currently consider themselves “PFAS laboratories” may eventually become involved.</p><h4><strong>An analytical field that is still changing rapidly</strong></h4><p>Perhaps the strongest theme running through the interview is that PFAS analysis has no fixed endpoint yet.</p><p>Methods continue to evolve. Regulations change. Target compound lists expand. Instrument sensitivity improves. Laboratories discover new sources of background contamination, while researchers identify additional exposure pathways and investigate new destruction technologies.</p><p>Taylor compares the situation to earlier periods of rapid analytical development, such as the evolution of forensic DNA analysis: each technological advance reveals more information, which in turn creates new questions and new analytical requirements.</p><p>That makes preparation particularly important.</p><p>Laboratories cannot predict every future regulation, but they can follow proposed requirements, develop flexible workflows, invest in contamination control and data capabilities, and understand how their existing chromatography and mass spectrometry expertise could be applied to emerging PFAS challenges.</p><p>The analytical problem is no longer simply detecting a group of “forever chemicals.”</p><p>It is becoming a much larger question of <strong>how we identify them, quantify them, prevent contamination during analysis, understand their movement through food and the environment, comply with evolving regulations, and ultimately prove that they have actually been destroyed.</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

PFAS in Water, Food & Packaging: Michelle Taylor on the "Forever Chemicals" Documentary Series

Article

Scientists

Environment

Water

Interview

Science and research

Video

Since its establishment in 2011, CEITEC has quickly developed into a cutting-edge infrastructure for research which performs highly alongside the best institutes in Europe. Among the main priorities of CEITEC are the promotion of a motivating and dynamic international scientific environment, the provision of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and the policy of open communication and equal opportunities.

CEITEC

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Organomation

Waters ACQUITY Arc LC System

The ACQUITY™ Arc™ System is an all-in-one platform for HPLC and UHPLC, designed for robust method development and seamless transfer between modern LC systems, addressing a wide range of analytical challenges.

<p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>Built upon a foundation of reliability</strong></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>The method development process is changing. New regulations, software and analytical technologies are rapidly changing how methods are designed, transferred, and monitored over their lifecycle. An all-in-one platform for HPLC and UHPLC separations, the ACQUITY™ Arc™ System is designed to meet the spectrum of challenges you face from robust method development to seamless transfer between any modern LC systems.</strong></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">With the <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong>, you can experience true plug-and-play method compatibility for HPLC and UHPLC separations. Significant productivity gains can be realized by deploying a single LC platform that allows for the efficient transfer, adjustment, and improvement of methods from any LC platform without compromise in method integrity.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:768/886;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_63246061ea.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_63246061ea.jpg 136w," sizes="100vw" width="768" height="886"></figure><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Laboratory-driven organizations have relied on Waters for over 60 years to deliver reliable, robust, and reproducible solutions to ensure confidence in their analytical results. With over 100,000 LC systems installed, we understand the significant impact the right technology has on your business, and the implications it has on characterizing the quality and safety of your products.</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Methods with greater agility, robustness, and capacity for change can help you reduce regulatory burden, risk of failure and costs. Visit <a disabled="true">www.methods.waters.com</a> to learn more about how method life cycle management (MLCM) connects your method today to your method tomorrow.</p><h3><strong>Designed for discovery to routine QC applications</strong></h3><p>The <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> is the only available LC system with regulatory compliant-ready hardware and software for both HPLC and UHPLC separations in one instrument. With unrivaled column capacity and Arc Multi-flow path™ technology, the<strong> ACQUITY Arc System</strong> allows you to generate new methods and modernize legacy HPLC methods faster than ever before.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_2_c06ba42baa.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: The ACQUITY Arc System can replicate your established HPLC methods by compensating for these differences with unique features such as the Arc Multi-Flow Path technology and Gradient SmartStart. These innovative attributes enable seamless replication of your existing chromatographic results to meet your acceptance criteria without changes to validated gradient tables." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_2_c06ba42baa.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="682"></p><h4><strong>Comprehensive detector portfolio</strong></h4><p>High-performance analytical detectors designed to maximize HPLC and UHPLC performance, delivering exceptional sensitivity and linearity for your assays.</p><p>Photodiode array, UV/Vis, fluorescence, refractive index, evaporative light scattering, and mass detection, including the ACQUITY QDa™ Detector.</p><h4><strong>Gradient SmartStart</strong></h4><p>Automatically manage gradient start time and pre-injection steps to maximize sample throughput. Automatically counteract differences in system dwell volume without the need to alter gradient table inputs.</p><h4><strong>Quaternary solvent management</strong></h4><p>Precise and accurate blending of up to four solvents with automated solvent compressibility compensation. Increase solvent flexibility with an optional, integrated solvent select valve, providing access to six additional solvents.</p><h4><strong>Negligible carryover</strong></h4><p>Advanced flow-through needle design minimizes carryover by continuously cleansing the needle during run. User-configurable wash settings provide flexibility to address even the most complex sample matrices.</p><h4><strong>Thermal management options</strong></h4><p>Column manager options available for up to 15 columns ranging in length from 50 mm to 300 mm, with a temperature range of 4 °C to 90 °C. Integrated column selection valve options provide unattended, fast column changeover.</p><h4><strong>Auto•Blend™ Plus Technology</strong></h4><p>Program gradients directly in terms of pH and ionic strength to minimize manual mobile phase preparation, reduce potential for human error, and accelerate method robustness testing for chromatographic methods.</p><h4><strong>Arc Multi-flow path technology</strong></h4><p>Delivers plug-and-play method compatibility with HPLC or UHPLC methods with the flip of a switch.</p><p>Easily replicate or improve established methods by simply selecting between Path 1 (HPLC) or Path 2 (UHPLC) without any manual user intervention.</p><h4><strong>Column Technology</strong></h4><p>Industry-leading selectivity choices to meet the needs of virtually every LC application.</p><h4><strong>Laboratory Informatics</strong></h4><p>Software control within your existing Empower™ or MassLynx™ infrastructure.</p><h3><strong>Replicate your established methods</strong></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong>, enabled by unique Arc Multi-flow path technology, easily accepts and replicates methods from any HPLC platform, without compromise.&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Whether you are trying to replicate an out-of-date HPLC method, transfer methods across the organization, or to contract partners, the <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> gives you ultimate flexibility to reproduce, modernize, and transfer existing methods with ease and greater cost efficiency, while preserving the integrity of your methods.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_3_c8c7901de3.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: Analysis run on a Vendor X LC system and replicated on the ACQUITY Arc System. Conditions: 15 to 35% B in 3 min, 35 to 95% B in 2 min; Mobile phase A: 0.1% HCOOH in H 2 O, mobile phase B: 0.1% HCOOH in ACN; Flow rate = 2.0 mL/min; Column: XSelect™ CSH C 18 , 4.6 x 150 mm, 5 μm; Temp. = 30 °C; UV@ 260 nm; 10.0 μL injection volume." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_3_c8c7901de3.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1099" height="596"></p><p>Upgrade your laboratory with a versatile, modern LC system that delivers HPLC and UHPLC method compatibility at the flip of a switch.</p><h3><strong>Modernize your methods</strong></h3><p>The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is championing pharmacopeial harmonization and modernization efforts, and international organizations are following suit. As a result, the USP is encouraging the modernization of older compendial methods to ensure they are fit for purpose.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_4_a1aaab8d02.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: Quetiapine fumarate system suitability solution analyzed on the ACQUITY Arc System using HPLC, UHPLC, and UPLC™ column/method conditions for the quetiapine impurity method. Peak identification: (1) quetiapine related compound G, (2) quetiapine related compound B, (3) quetiapine desethoxy, and (4) quetiapine." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_4_a1aaab8d02.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1092" height="678"></p><p>Revisions to these guidelines give you more flexibility to modify your existing pharmacopeial methods with modern techniques and technologies, and in some cases avoid revalidation. The <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong>, featuring the Waters Columns Calculator, allows you to confidently scale your gradient methods from a 3.5 μm to a 2.5 μm particle, decreasing run times, lowering solvent consumption, and increasing sample throughput.</p><h3><span><strong>Save time. Reduce cost.</strong></span></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">With the right column, the <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> is the ideal solution to accommodate methods from any LC platform.&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">From concept to production, the transition your product takes through the product development cycle often requires rigorous LC assays to properly characterize and assess its readiness to advance to the next stage. These LC assays are often adapted to accommodate the technology available from one stage to the next, in some cases requiring an adjustment from a smaller particle size (sub-2-μm) to a larger particle size (2.5 μm–5 μm).</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_5_d9dd95135c.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: The ACQUITY Arc System enables the support of HPLC and UHPLC methods on a single platform." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_5_d9dd95135c.jpg 173w," sizes="100vw" width="959" height="860"></p><p>The <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> provides the flexibility to maximize productivity through efficient and rapid 2.5 μm–2.7 μm UHPLC separations, or to accommodate larger 3.0 μm–5 μm HPLC particles.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_6_1ebc2c67e7.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: Save time. Reduce cost." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_6_1ebc2c67e7.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1683" height="469"></p><h3><span><strong>Mitigate your risk</strong></span></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">With an expanded range of column manager options enabling up to 15-column switching from 4 °C to 90 °C, the <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> will help you significantly reduce the time spent generating robust methods. Equipped with the plug-and-play ACQUITY QDa Mass Detector, the <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> tracks peaks in your method and reveals hidden coelutions of similar analytes, ensuring you have complete confidence in the reliability and reproducibility of your method now and far into the future.</p><h4><strong>Thermal management options</strong></h4><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Active and passive pre-heating options available, with up to 15-column switching from 4 °C to 90 °C. Automated monitoring and tracking of column usage with eCord™ technology available with active pre-heating options.</p><h4><strong>Quaternary solvent management</strong></h4><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Accelerate your method development with precise and accurate blending of up to four solvents. Increase solvent flexibility with an optional solvent select valve, providing access to six additional solvents.</p><h4><strong>Auto•Blend Plus Technology</strong></h4><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Reduce human error and accelerate method robustness testing for chromatographic methods by programming gradients to control mobile phase pH and ionic strength.</p><h4><strong>Comprehensive detector portfolio</strong></h4><p>Diverse portfolio of detectors for method development, method transfer, and routine use.</p><h4><strong>ACQUITY QDa Detector</strong></h4><p>Mass detection built around the needs of analytical scientists for chromatographic analysis. Robust, reliable and requiring no adjustments, it easily integrates with your<strong> ACQUITY Arc System.</strong></p><h5><strong>Support</strong></h5><p data-start="0" data-end="175">Empower eLearning modules to help train your lab on Empower 3 and Method Validation. Applications support that’s customized based on your method development needs.</p><h5><strong>Consumables</strong></h5><p data-start="177" data-end="410" data-is-last-node="">Industry-leading selectivity choices to meet the needs of virtually every LC application. Quality Control (QC) Reference Material benchmarks your <strong>ACQUITY Arc System </strong>and enables perfect resolution. Certified clean vials.</p><h5><strong>Laboratory Informatics</strong></h5><p>Software control within your existing Empower or MassLynx infrastructure. Empower 3 Method Validation Manager allows you to perform chromatographic method validation in one application. Optional S-Matrix Fusion Software automates your method development according to AQbD guidelines.</p><h3><span><strong>Develop methods that stand the test of time</strong></span></h3><p>Need an orthogonal detection approach to UV in your method development? Streamline your method development with an LC-MS solution that’s as easy to use as photodiode array detection.</p><p>The <strong>ACQUITY Arc System</strong> is fully compatible with the ACQUITY Arc, supporting efficient and robust method development by expanding the information you can get from your system using the same Empower Software. The system automatically pairs qualitative mass spectral data to the peaks in your chromatogram, leaving nothing to chance.</p><ul><li>Confirm the identity of peaks in a separation without injecting standards.</li><li>Identify new peaks in a separation with molecular weight information.&nbsp;</li><li>Detect unresolved peaks and determine if a peak is homogeneously pure.</li><li>Easily track peaks as method conditions are changed.</li></ul><p data-start="272" data-end="600">Using Empower 3 Software and its Custom Calculations and Custom Reporting functions enables you to quickly and automatically evaluate chromatographic data. Configurable reports allow you to choose optimal conditions based on metrics rather than judgment, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of data and best method conditions.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_7_e7ef959203.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Arc System: Method transfer of USP Assay for Fluconazole using the ACQUITY Arc System. Here the peak has same m/z of a related compound. Conditions: Mobile phase: 20:80 acetonitrile/ water; Flow rate = 0.5 mL/min; Column: XSelect HSS T3, 4.6 x 150 mm, 3.5 μm; UV@ 260 nm; 20.0 μL injection volume." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Arc_System_7_e7ef959203.jpg 224w," sizes="100vw" width="939" height="654"></p><h3><strong>Streamline your workflow</strong></h3><div><div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="7b732be9-0a45-45fb-b585-70a90c1a74d6" dir="auto" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o"><div><div><p data-start="602" data-end="827">How would you benefit from increased assay consistency between analysts and from lab to lab? What would you gain by accelerating your robustness testing prior to transferring methods to QA/QC?</p><p data-start="829" data-end="1392" data-is-last-node="">Auto•Blend Plus Technology is a novel software tool that extends traditional quaternary solvent blending to permit gradient programming directly in units of pH and ionic strength, providing the ability to vary composition in even the smallest increments of pH (even those differing by 0.1 pH units or less).&nbsp;</p><p data-start="829" data-end="1392" data-is-last-node="">With Auto•Blend Plus, the cumbersome and error-prone approach of manually preparing several pre-mixed mobile phases can now be eliminated with on-demand mobile phase creation, providing significant time savings and improved productivity to the laboratory.</p></div></div></div></div>

Waters Alliance HPLC System

 With its proven performance history, the Alliance HPLC is the industry’s analytical HPLC system of choice, ideally suited for methods development and routine analysis.

<div><div><h4><strong>Reliably achieve quality, compliant data. Every time, in every lab.</strong></h4></div></div><div><div><p><strong>Liquid chromatography (LC) systems must deliver unequivocal results that give you confidence in your scientific and business decisions. Waters LC commitment continues to succeed with the latest Alliance HPLC System – trusted by scientists worldwide for the data to drive informed decisions.</strong></p><div><div><div><div><p>Building on <strong>industry-standard performance and reliability</strong>, the <strong>Alliance HPLC System</strong> provides the <strong>capabilities to meet today’s business challenges</strong>. With its <strong>proven performance history</strong>, the Alliance HPLC is the <strong>industry’s analytical HPLC system of choice</strong>, ideally suited for <strong>methods development and routine analysis</strong>.</p><ul><li>Time-tested, dependable, and robust workhorse for your HPLC separations</li><li>Integrated solvent and sample management with consistent system-to-system performance and high reproducibility</li><li>Simplify your daily LC system start-up with advanced software functionality</li></ul><h5><strong>Recommended Use</strong></h5><p>For standard HPLC workflows where <strong>consistency and compliance</strong> are the highest priorities.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_1_6b63ab6d62/Waters-Alliance-HPLC-System-1.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_1_6b63ab6d62/thumbnail_Waters-Alliance-HPLC-System-1.jpg 147w," sizes="100vw" width="908" height="961"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Excellence through the years</strong></h3><p>The consistency of the Alliance HPLC System gives you <strong>exceptional confidence in your analytical results</strong>, day-to-day and year-to-year. Get <strong>accurate and reproducible results</strong> with <strong>Waters flagship HPLC technology</strong>, which provides <strong>consistent and reliable performance</strong>. Whether your Alliance HPLC System is newly manufactured, or you're working on one that is several years old, the Alliance HPLC System is a <strong>time-tested, dependable,</strong> and <strong>robust </strong>workhorse for your HPLC separations.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_dfafc334c1.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System: Comparison of the separation of carbamates using two different Alliance HPLC Systems, manufactured 7 years apart. The results are equivalent." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_dfafc334c1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="532"></p></div></div><div><div><h3><strong>Performance that exceeds your method requirements</strong></h3><p>The <strong>Alliance HPLC System</strong> ensures the <strong>reliability of your results</strong> via <strong>high injection precision</strong> and <strong>repeatable and accurate flow rates</strong>, resulting in <strong>easy peak identification</strong>, <strong>precise quantification</strong>, and <strong>exceptional retention time repeatability</strong>.</p><p>The integrated solvent delivery system features <strong>quaternary blending with a fixed delay volume</strong> for <strong>consistent and predictable results</strong>, regardless of system back pressure. The sample managers’ <strong>flexible injection capabilities</strong> cover a wide injection volume range (up to 2 mL) with <strong>excellent carryover performance</strong>, typically <strong>below 0.005%</strong>.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_2_6dab43c365.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System: USP method for Budesonide on the Alliance HPLC System." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_2_6dab43c365.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="580"></p></div></div><div><div><h3><strong>Advancements in column chemistry and mass detection</strong></h3><p>The <strong>Alliance HPLC</strong> can leverage <strong>smaller particle size column chemistry</strong> to improve your laboratory's efficiency. With <strong>CORTECS 2.7 µm particle size columns</strong>, your lab will benefit from <strong>improvements in resolution</strong> and <strong>faster run times</strong> when transferring from a 5 µm size particle chemistry.</p><p>Further <strong>increase confidence in your data</strong> by adding <strong>mass confirmation with the ACQUITY QDa Detector</strong>, which is <strong>simple to use</strong> and can easily integrate into your existing workflow. <strong>Analysis in Empower 3 Software</strong> combines data from <strong>UV/Vis and mass spectrometry (MS)</strong> peaks to give <strong>mass information to each peak</strong> in the separation.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_3_3711671b2e.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System: Mass detection with the ACQUITY QDa Detector with UV detection." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_3_3711671b2e.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="550"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_4_bf40981882.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System: Mass detection with the ACQUITY QDa Detector with UV detection." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_4_bf40981882.jpg 240w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="666"></p></div></div><div><div><h3><strong>Features and benefits</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Quaternary solvent blending. </strong>Support isocratic and gradient applications with 11 unique gradient profile curves and blend up to 4 solvents in any proportion with Auto-Blend Technology. Compatible with solvent types such as reversed-phase, normal-phase, GPC, SEC, and IEX.</li><li><strong>Advanced solvent delivery capabilities. </strong>Serial flow path with pulse-free solvent delivery without the use of dampeners. Online solvent degassing and automated solvent compressibility compensation for accurate flow. Integrated seal wash for robust operation with all solvent types is standard.</li><li><strong>Optional, temperature-controlled environment.</strong> House up to 120 vials in an optional, temperature-controlled environment. Achieve low carryover with active and user programmable needle wash. Variable injection volumes from 0.1 to 100 μL standard, and up to 2 mL optional. Support STAT samples and auto-addition.</li><li><strong>Detection and column options. </strong>Get optional column heating, heating/cooling, or column switching capabilities. Detection capabilities include photodiode array, UV/Vis, fluorescence (FLR), refractive index (RI), evaporative light scattering (ELS), electrochemical, conductivity, and mass detection.</li><li><strong>Intuitive interface and software. </strong>Get instant access to system settings through the large LCD screen with simplified daily set-up with SystemPREP. Supports Empower, MassLynx, and 3<sup>rd</sup> party software packages.</li><li><strong>Compliance-ready. </strong>Supports Waters Empower-based automated system qualification tool (SQT), minimizing the time and cost of annual qualification with standards like GMP, GLP, ISO 17025, and USP &lt;1058&gt;.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_2_47fe8951d2/Waters-Alliance-HPLC-System-2.jpg" alt="Waters Alliance HPLC System: Alliance HPLC System provides powerful functionality for all your application needs." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_Alliance_HPLC_System_2_47fe8951d2/thumbnail_Waters-Alliance-HPLC-System-2.jpg 161w," sizes="100vw" width="903" height="874"></p><h3><strong>Specifications</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Maximum operating pressure</strong>: 5,000 psi</li><li><strong>Front panel display</strong>: Easy to use control panel</li><li><strong>Mobile phases</strong>: Up to 4 with Auto-Blend Technology</li><li><strong>Flow rate range</strong>: Up to 10 mL/min</li><li><strong>Sample carryover</strong>: ≤0.0025% (Caffeine) under specified conditions</li><li><strong>Sample compartment</strong>: 4–40 °C</li><li><strong>Pump options</strong>: Quaternary</li><li><strong>Solvent conditioning</strong>: Vacuum Degas</li><li><strong>Column capacity</strong>: Standard up to 3 columns</li><li><strong>Maximum sample capacity</strong>: 120</li><li><strong>Detector options</strong>:&nbsp;<ul><li>Tunable UV</li><li>Photo Diode Array</li><li>Fluorescence</li><li>Refractive Index</li><li>Evaporative Light Scattering</li><li>Electrochemical</li><li>Conductivity</li><li>Mass Spectrometry</li></ul></li><li><strong>External control</strong>:&nbsp;<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/627">Empower Software</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/635">MassLynx Software</a></li></ul></li><li><strong>Physical specifications</strong>:<ul><li><strong>Width:</strong> 45.7 cm (18.0 in.) or 58.4 cm (23.0 in.) with column heater</li><li><strong>Height:</strong> 57.1 cm (22.5 in.)</li><li><strong>Depth:</strong> 57.1 cm (22.5 in.) or 64.8 cm (25.5 in.) with sample heater/cooler</li></ul></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Watrex Streamline binary gradient HPLC system

Watrex Streamline™ binary gradient HPLC system consists of two P1 pumps, static mixer, CT1 column thermostat, PDA1 diode-array detector, AS1 auto-sampler, and Clarity PDA datastation.

<p><strong>Streamline™ binary gradient HPLC system consists of two </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/?s=streamline+p1+pump&amp;post_type=product&amp;dgwt_wcas=1?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty"><strong>P1 pumps</strong></a><strong>, static mixer, </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/column-thermostats/streamline-ct1-columm-thermostat/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty"><strong>CT1 column thermostat</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/?s=pda1&amp;post_type=product&amp;dgwt_wcas=1?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty"><strong>PDA1 diode-array detector</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/sampling-devices/autosamplers/streamline-as1-autosampler/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty"><strong>AS1 auto-sampler</strong></a><strong>, and Clarity PDA datastation.</strong></p><h3><strong>FEATURES</strong></h3><ul><li>Optimized pump mechanics with parallel piston design offers <strong>excellent flow rate accuracy</strong> and <strong>gradient composition</strong> at all solvents ratios</li><li><strong>Variable volume injection range 0.1 - 999.9 μl</strong>, high precision and reproducibility, and low carryover AS1 autosapler</li><li>Excellent signal-to-noise ratio of <strong>the PDA2 detector</strong></li><li>Data acquisition, processing and instrument control is by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/999"><i>Clarity Chromatography Station</i>*</a></li></ul><h3><strong>COMPONENT SPECIFICATION</strong></h3><ul><li>Gradient solvent delivery system <strong>consisting of two P1 HPLC pumps</strong></li></ul><h5><strong>COMPONENT P1 HPLC pumps</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Flow Rates:</strong> 0,01 ml/min – 9,99 ml/min with step 0.01 ml/min (analytical)</li><li><strong>Flow Rates:</strong> 0,10 ml/min – 40,0 ml/min (preparative)</li><li><strong>Pressure:</strong> 42 MPa/6000 psi (analytical, stainless steel)</li><li><strong>Pressure:</strong> 35 Mpa/5000 psi (analytical, PEEK)</li><li><strong>Pressure:</strong> 10 Mpa/1500 psi (preparative)</li><li><strong>Flow precision:</strong> ± 0,2% RSD @ 1mL/min. and 1,000 psi (analytical)</li><li><strong>Flow accuracy:</strong> ± 1% @ 1mL/min. and 1,000 psi (analytical)</li><li><strong>Pressure accuracy:</strong> ± 2% of full-scale, with 80:20 H2O/IPA @ 1000psi</li><li><strong>Pulsation:</strong> better than ± 0.5% @ 1mL/min. and 1,000 psi (analytical)</li><li><strong>Remote control:</strong> USB</li><li><strong>Remote control:</strong> Start, Stop, Status, Error</li></ul><h5><strong>COMPONENT - PDA1 detector</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Wetted Materials:</strong> Stainless Steel/ PEEK*, teflon, Glass (*depending on configuration)</li><li><strong>Light Source:</strong> Deuterium Lamp, Tungsten Lamp</li><li><strong>Wavelength Range:</strong> 190 – 720 nm</li><li><strong>Number of Diodes:</strong> 256</li><li><strong>Baseline Noise:</strong> ± 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 2 sec. risetime)</li><li><strong>Baseline Drift:</strong> less than 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li><strong>Wavelength Accuracy:</strong> 0.5 nm</li><li><strong>Mean Pixel Pitch:</strong> 2.2 nm</li><li><strong>Resolution:</strong> 7 nm</li><li><strong>Linearity:</strong> higher than 2.0 AU</li><li><strong>Data Rate:</strong> 1 Hz – 100 Hz</li></ul><h5><strong>COMPONENT - CT1 Column thermostat</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Temperature range:</strong> 10 °C above ambient temperature to 100 °C</li><li><strong>Temperature accuracy:</strong> max. 0,5 % of actual temperature</li><li><strong>Temperature stability:</strong> RSD &lt; 0,4 %</li><li><strong>Settability:</strong> 0,1 °C</li><li><strong>Internal dimensions:</strong> 320 x 50 x 30 mm (L x W x H)</li><li><strong>Compartment material:</strong> PTFE coated metal</li><li><strong>Compartment connection:</strong> USB</li><li><strong>Control:</strong> build-in color touch panel, datasystem</li></ul><h5><strong>COMPONENT - AS1 autosampler:</strong> X-Y-Z-Operation; motor driven syringe, Capacity: 60 vials, Sample Loop: standard, 20μl, Reproducibility: Fix Volume: &lt; 0.5%, Variable Volume: &lt;1.0%, Carry-over: &lt;0.01% , Programmable wash.</h5><h5><strong>COMPONENT - Clarity™ Chromatography Station:</strong> PDA data acquisition and evaluation, gradient, and autosampler control with pre-set methods for experimental settings. PC Win 10 Professional with LCD monitor .</h5><h3><strong>Ordering information:</strong></h3><h5><strong>PN/Component:</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>SSG101-001</strong> Streamline™ binary HPLC system (Includes P1m+P1s pumps, PDA1 detector, CT1 thermostat, AS1 autosampler, solvent rack, Clarity PC station)</li></ul><h5>Optional configurations:</h5><ul><li><strong>SPDA99-201</strong> Remove PDA1 diode-array detector from system</li><li><strong>ST99-001</strong> Remove CT1 column thermostat from system</li><li><strong>SAS99-001</strong> Remove AS1 autosampler from system</li><li><strong>SUV90-001</strong> Add UV1 Variable UV/Vis detector to system</li><li><strong>SFC90-001</strong> Add FC1 Fraction collector to system</li><li><strong>SCT90-002</strong> Add CT1i column thermostat with manual injector from system</li></ul>

Products from category HPLC - page 2

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