<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 QDa II Mass Detector

The ACQUITY™ QDa™ II Mass Detector enhances efficiency and productivity in separations workflows with advanced technology.

<h3><strong>Advancing the Power of Mass Detection</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Identify Everything in Your Sample with Complete Confidence&nbsp;</strong></li></ul><h5><strong>Information-rich mass spectral data starts here&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><strong>Built on a solid foundation of groundbreaking technology, the ACQUITY™ QDa™ II Mass Detector provides even more efficiency and productivity of separations workflows, providing information-rich mass spectral data, ensuring compliance, and regulatory certainty.</strong></p><h4><strong>SEE MORE COMPOUNDS</strong></h4><p>Greater compound coverage from an extended mass range to support small molecules, large molecules and new modalities. A complementary technique to analog detection for chemicals with no chromophores, ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector enables you to confirm the identity and purity of more compounds with the power of mass detection.</p><h4><strong>ANALYZE MORE SAMPLES</strong></h4><p>Robust, reliable and requiring no sample-specific adjustment. Simply power on to make informed decisions with the full picture of what’s in your sample. Minimal maintenance along with system performance monitoring ensures maximum uptime.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE ROBUSTNESS OF YOUR SEPARATIONS</strong></h4><p>The addition of mass detection to your method development workflow enables fast peak tracking and greater confidence in peak purity, for more robust separations. Combined with industry-leading AQbD method development software, your lab can achieve unprecedented MS peak tracking functionality with the ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector.</p><h4><strong>STRIVE FOR MORE SUSTAINABILITY</strong></h4><p>Achieve up to a 70% reduction in energy consumption and heat output compared to other vendor’s MS systems. The ACT Environmental Impact Factor Label<strong>*</strong> -- available and published by My Green Lab – provides clear, third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products, enabling you to make the most sustainable decisions for your organization.</p><p><strong>* </strong>ACT - About (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mygreenlab.org/">mygreenlab.org</a>)</p><h3><strong>Continuing to Separate Beyond Question</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Ensure your laboratory is prepared for the future</strong></li></ul><h4><strong>MORE PERFORMANCE</strong></h4><p>Plug and play performance with its intuitive design, complementary to optical detection with the robustness to handle all of your analyses. Working in harmony with your chromatography, it’s pre-optimized to work with your samples, without the sample-specific or user adjustments typical of traditional mass spectrometers.</p><h4><strong>MORE EFFICIENCY</strong></h4><p>The intuitive design of the ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector provides additional data without cost or complexity. The most information you can get out of your separation for complete characterization. In synergy with optical detection, you can significantly reduce the chance that a sample component will go undetected helping to mitigate risk and ensuring a sound return on your investment.</p><h4><strong>MORE SUSTAINABILITY</strong></h4><p>Purposeful innovation, a stackable mass detector that seamlessly integrates into existing workflows resulting in less bench space and more energy efficient. Minimal cleaning and routine maintenance ensuring maximum uptime. Compatible with green solvents ensuring reduced environmental impact.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_3_f98f84c080.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_3_f98f84c080.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="682"></p><ul><li>Simply power on, and you’re ready to go</li><li>Zero user set-up optimization, calibration, or adjustment</li><li>Run your analyses − it just works</li><li>When you’re done, just power-off</li></ul><h3><strong>The Perfect Partner</strong></h3><h4><strong>Designed for compatibility with your chromatography&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Meet all your chromatography requirements with Waters chromatography systems, including our dependability and flexibility ranges of HPLC systems, performance range of UPLC systems, and our purification and specialty systems.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_The_Perfect_Partner_Designed_for_compatibility_with_your_chromatography_1042adecb0.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: The Perfect Partner. Designed for compatibility with your chromatography." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_The_Perfect_Partner_Designed_for_compatibility_with_your_chromatography_1042adecb0.jpg 189w," sizes="100vw" width="1299" height="1074"></p><h3><strong>Effortless Integration</strong></h3><h4><strong>Achieve more with flexible software solutions</strong></h4><p>Process, Interpret, visualize, and compare the most complex data, and turn it into meaningful information quickly and simply. With integrated optical and mass detector data processing workflows, you can also analyze mass spectral data in the same way as you do photo diode array (PDA) data.</p><p>The ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector is fully compatible with Masslynx™ Software and its suite of data processing application managers. Empower™ Software, our industry-leading chromatography data software platform is also fully compatible providing the ultimate flexibility.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Effortless_Integration_Achieve_more_with_flexible_software_solutions_4fd6e9f0d8.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: Effortless Integration. Achieve more with flexible software solutions." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Effortless_Integration_Achieve_more_with_flexible_software_solutions_4fd6e9f0d8.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1397" height="422"></p><h4><strong>EMPOWER CHROMATOGRAPHY DATA SYSTEM (CDS)</strong></h4><p>Simplifying the way you collect, manage, and report chromatography test results is critical to your lab efficiency. With a suite of flexible functionalities that grows to meet your changing quality, business, and laboratory needs, Empower CDS has been purposefully designed to help you address your most demanding chromatographic, regulatory, and networking challenges.</p><h4><strong>EMPOWER LAB MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)</strong></h4><p>Automating your lab workflow, from sample creation to data archival, is critical for maintaining data integrity and enhancing productivity. Manage your data all from a single, simple dashboard for an integrated approach to your product lifecycle management so you can reduce transcription errors, increase efficiency, and maximize data durability.</p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1544"><strong>waters_connect™</strong></a><strong> SYSTEM MONITORING</strong></h4><p>Monitor all Empower Software-controlled chromatography systems remotely, at any time, from anywhere. Dynamically plan laboratory activities, monitor the status of your laboratory and maximize productivity. Troubleshoot and respond to errors faster, increasing system uptime.</p><h3><strong>Identify More in Released Glycan Analysis</strong></h3><h4><strong>Unlock the full potential of your QC glycan testing</strong></h4><p>While non-MS methods offer routine QC capabilities, they fall short in delivering the detailed characterization, crucial for biopharmaceutical development. The ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector with extended mass range revolutionizes routine analysis, offering accurate QC monitoring of N-glycan species with speed and precision. Coupled with Waters chromatography systems, enjoy enhanced MS response with uniform charge state for accurate quantitation, enabling scrutiny of released N-glycan profiles in under 40 minutes per sample. Complement fluorescence (FLR) detection and embrace reproducible, quantitative separation for rapid decision-making.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Selected_Ion_Recording_SIR_chromatogram_of_doubly_charged_components_of_a_glycan_sample_Highlighted_additional_components_identified_s_a_result_of_the_extended_mass_range_ac0160e74d.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: Selected Ion Recording (SIR) chromatogram of doubly charged components of a glycan sample. Highlighted additional components identified s a result of the extended mass range." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Selected_Ion_Recording_SIR_chromatogram_of_doubly_charged_components_of_a_glycan_sample_Highlighted_additional_components_identified_s_a_result_of_the_extended_mass_range_ac0160e74d.jpg 238w," sizes="100vw" width="1347" height="883"></p><h3><strong>Unparalleled Robustness for More Qualitative and Quantitative Performance</strong></h3><h4><strong>Reduce the risk of genotoxic impurities formation in drug manufacturing</strong></h4><p data-start="0" data-end="296">Support risk assessment through routine monitoring of excipients and raw materials in drug manufacturing. Accessible, regulatory compliant-ready LC-MS solutions provide an efficient and cost-effective approach in mitigating the risk of impurity formation during the manufacture of drug product.</p><p data-start="298" data-end="768">Nitrite, a critical risk factor in N-Nitrosamine formation, presents as an impurity in pharmaceutical excipients, often in parts per million (ppm). The ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector is a robust and reliable solution for routine analysis of nitrite in excipients. With automated resolution, tuning, and calibration during start-up, the ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector eliminates the need for analyst intervention, ensuring seamless operation and precise results every time.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Over_29_days_of_rigorous_testing_it_flawlessly_executed_approximately_6000_injections_with_minimal_downtime_02a496f422.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: Over 29 days of rigorous testing, it flawlessly executed approximately 6000 injections with minimal downtime." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Over_29_days_of_rigorous_testing_it_flawlessly_executed_approximately_6000_injections_with_minimal_downtime_02a496f422.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1185" height="529"></p><p data-start="770" data-end="1012" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Empower CDS reporting functionality offers simple reviewing of excipient nitrite concentration within a sample batch. This allows for fast and comprehensive decision making, while ensuring compliance and data integrity within your laboratory.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Example_of_Empower_CDS_generated_data_report_for_nitrite_content_in_a_maize_starch_sample_2f106193ee.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: Example of Empower CDS generated data report for nitrite content in a maize starch sample." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Example_of_Empower_CDS_generated_data_report_for_nitrite_content_in_a_maize_starch_sample_2f106193ee.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="937" height="585"></p><h3><strong data-start="0" data-end="62">Improving Efficiency with a More Sustainable Mass Detector</strong></h3><h4><strong>Low operational costs and environmental footprint</strong></h4><p data-start="123" data-end="346"><strong>As a leading technology innovator in chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis instruments and software, Waters shares a common mission with our customers: to leave the world a better place than we found it.</strong></p><p data-start="348" data-end="674" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Many of our customers are actively working to address environmental sustainability in balance with the need to continually reduce operational costs. Waters has addressed these challenges by providing an instrument with low electricity consumption and BTU/hr output – lessening the need for air conditioning and lowering costs.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Improving_Efficiency_with_a_More_Sustainable_Mass_Detector_Low_operational_costs_and_environmental_footprint_a9e182ea1f.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector: Improving Efficiency with a More Sustainable Mass Detector. Low operational costs and environmental footprint." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Q_Da_II_Mass_Detector_Improving_Efficiency_with_a_More_Sustainable_Mass_Detector_Low_operational_costs_and_environmental_footprint_a9e182ea1f.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1124" height="389"></p><p><strong>*</strong>From competitor A Specification Sheet.</p><p><strong>**</strong>From competitor B Site Preparation Checklist</p><h3><strong>Unrivaled Support</strong></h3><h3><strong>Ensure your success with world-renowned services</strong></h3><p data-start="77" data-end="464" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Waters Service and Support helps maintain peak system performance, minimize downtime, address scientific challenges, and meet compliance requirements.&nbsp;</p><p>Waters award-winning consistent quality support, professional services, and education ensure your success wherever your laboratory is located in the world. With Waters service and support offerings<strong>*</strong> for your ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector, you can</p><h4><strong data-start="0" data-end="30">GET UP AND RUNNING QUICKLY</strong></h4><p data-start="0" data-end="235">Get the onsite training and consultation you need to integrate the ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector into your laboratory and assist with data migration and method transfer needs with Waters Professional Services.</p><h4><strong data-start="237" data-end="276">MEET YOUR LAB’S UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS</strong></h4><p data-start="237" data-end="460">Protect your instrument investment with the comprehensive portfolio of service plans from Waters FlexCHOICE™, which provides access to the most in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the advanced science and technologies within Waters systems.</p><h4><strong data-start="462" data-end="487">FACILITATE COMPLIANCE</strong></h4><p data-start="462" data-end="635">Simplify the process of qualification, and record-keeping so that your business can focus on delivering products to market with Waters Compliance Services – so you can meet the regulations in your industry and in the countries where you conduct business.</p><h4><strong data-start="637" data-end="671">REDUCE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP</strong></h4><p data-start="637" data-end="864">FlexCAPITAL™ <strong>**</strong> is designed to support continuous laboratory operation while satisfying the budgeting challenges of a constantly shifting landscape. Minimize total cost of ownership while optimizing instrument performance and protecting your organization from security risks associated with outdated software platforms.</p><h4><strong data-start="866" data-end="903">LEVERAGE YOUR EXISTING TECHNOLOGY</strong></h4><p data-start="866" data-end="1104" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">With the FlexUP™ Technology renewal program, you can upgrade your older single quadrupole mass spectrometry system to the ACQUITY QDa II Mass Detector -- improving performance, results, and productivity while controlling costs and mitigating compliance risk.</p><p><strong>*</strong> Availability of offerings varies by country. Contact Waters or your local Waters representative for details<br><strong>**</strong> FlexCAPITAL payment plan options and availability may vary by country. Other restrictions may apply.</p>

Waters RADIAN ASAP Direct Mass Detector

Combining flexibility, ease of operation, and speed without the need for complex sample preparation, separation or extensive MS experience, the RADIAN ASAP helps you and your laboratory achieve more.

<div><div id="title-a9e634f6cb" data-locator="title-with-text"><h3><strong>The power of knowing now</strong></h3></div></div><div><div id="text-c687cac6aa" data-locator="text"><p><strong>Whether you are looking to improve your drug discovery cycle, expand your client services, or simply become more competitive in your turnaround times, integrating direct mass spectrometry (MS) analysis can drive multiple system-wide efficiencies helping to achieve your operational goals.</strong></p><p>Combining flexibility, ease of operation, and speed without the need for complex sample preparation, separation or extensive MS experience, the RADIAN ASAP helps you and your laboratory achieve more.</p><ul><li>Simple operation and data interpretation</li><li>Minimal sample preparation</li><li>No separation required</li><li>Real-time results and classification</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:454/321;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_RADIAN_ASAP_7cfe24b23d/Waters-RADIAN-ASAP_s.webp" alt="Waters RADIAN ASAP Direct Mass Detector" width="454" height="321"></figure><h3><strong>Overview</strong></h3><div data-locator="section-container-body"><div><div><div data-locator="layoutcontainer-"><div><div id="text-6b896f6da4" data-locator="text"><ul><li>Ensure users get up and running quickly with RADIAN ASAP’s easy to learn and fully automated set up, streamlined workflow, and minimal training requirements</li><li>Minimize sample prep with direct sampling onto glass probe</li><li>Minimize the need for solvent use and disposal with no chromatography</li><li>Save time with 30 second analysis and real-time sample classification</li></ul></div></div><div><div id="text-161a2a5c01" data-locator="text"><h4><strong>Recommended Use</strong></h4><p>For rapid, easy, and low-cost analysis of liquids and solids.</p><div><div id="text-4973311325" data-locator="text"><h3 data-locator="modal-title"><strong>Compact without compromise</strong></h3><p>The RADIAN ASAP is a novel, dedicated direct analysis system specifically designed for rapid, easy and low-cost analysis of liquids and solids. Engineered using proven and robust single quadrupole mass spectrometry technology combined with the Atmospheric Pressure Solids Analysis Probe (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/nextgen/us/en/services/instrument-services/instrument-upgrades/mass-spectrometry-ms-upgrades/atmospheric-solids-analysis-probe.html" data-di-id="di-id-70d78c77-7e033f9d">ASAP</a>), the RADIAN ASAP delivers quality and ease of use in a compact footprint.&nbsp;</p><p>This single quadrupole mass detector provides high quality mass spectral data, without the need for any special training or expertise, eliminating any need to contract out and wait for results from specialist analytical service laboratories.</p></div></div><div><div id="text-08366f2c0d" data-locator="text"><h3 data-locator="modal-title"><strong>Flexible workflow solutions in 4 simple steps</strong></h3><p>Operation of the RADIAN ASAP is simple and intuitive, allowing users to generate results with minimal or no sample preparation, making it an ideal tool for laboratories to make informed decisions. Capable of ionizing molecules directly from a liquid or solid makes the system available to a wide range of applications and workflows.</p><h4><strong>Generate results in 4 simple steps:</strong></h4><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_RADIAN_ASAP_analyza_ve_4_jednoduchych_krocich_a997bfddda/Waters-RADIAN-ASAP-analyza-ve-4-jednoduchych-krocich.jpg" alt="Waters RADIAN ASAP Direct Mass Detector: Flexible workflow solutions in 4 simple steps" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_RADIAN_ASAP_analyza_ve_4_jednoduchych_krocich_a997bfddda/thumbnail_Waters-RADIAN-ASAP-analyza-ve-4-jednoduchych-krocich.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1683" height="490"></p><h3><strong>Ideal for numerous application requirements</strong></h3><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/waters/nav.htm?cid=135078611" data-di-id="di-id-7f758d90-ccee23de"><strong>Rapid triage of seized drug materials for Forensics</strong></a><i>&nbsp;<strong>—</strong>&nbsp;</i>RADIAN ASAP and LiveID ensure crime labs can quickly screen samples against a library of known compounds for rapid, confident identification of illicit drugs. The sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry provides confidence in detecting drugs with an easy, efficient triage workflow.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/waters/nav.htm?cid=134528742" data-di-id="di-id-3a3c46e4-ccee23de"><strong>Assess food integrity for Food &amp; Environmental</strong></a>&nbsp;<strong>—</strong> The threat posed by food fraud has created additional demands on both the food industry and regulators to protect food consumers and maintain brand reputation. RADIAN ASAP and LiveID offer a powerful combination of mass spectrometry and chemometric modeling, allowing users to easily and efficiently screen samples and make quicker decisions.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tainstruments.com/radian-asap-direct-mass-detector/" data-di-id="di-id-2fac456-44144a9d"><strong>Fast chemical analysis for improved formulation testing in Chemical and Materials</strong></a><i>&nbsp;<strong>—</strong>&nbsp;</i>RADIAN ASAP and IonLynx supports quality control (QC) and development labs in the chemical industry to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. Streamline workflows like fast chemical analysis for improved formulation testing or&nbsp;material release testing. Features including thermal gradient analysis are ideal for the complex samples in the chemical industry.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/waters/nav.htm?cid=134751395" data-di-id="di-id-76921eaa-ccee23de"><strong>Discovery reaction monitoring&nbsp;for Pharma</strong></a>&nbsp;<strong>—</strong> The demand to accelerate the drug discovery and development process has never been higher.&nbsp;RADIAN ASAP provides synthetic chemists easy access to mass spectral data for near-instantaneous assessment of reaction progress and identification of purification fractions, increasing lab efficiency.</p><div><div><div><div id="text-8b0fa56c8c" data-locator="text"><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/waters/nav.htm?cid=134971387" data-di-id="di-id-10e51f17-ccee23de"><strong>Undergraduate teaching&nbsp;and method development&nbsp;in Academia</strong></a><strong> —&nbsp;</strong>Simplicity and ease of use makes RADIAN ASAP the ideal tool for busy academic laboratories that need a robust and reliable solution.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:474/308;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_RADIAN_ASAP_2_87ddc46f15/Waters-RADIAN-ASAP-2_s.webp" alt="Waters RADIAN ASAP Direct Mass Detector" width="474" height="308"></figure><div><div id="text-a5e5e26910" data-locator="text"><h3 data-locator="modal-title"><strong>Software solutions for your data requirements</strong></h3><p><strong>RADIAN ASAP</strong> is compatible with software solutions for rapid interpretation and classification as well as automated data processing and reporting.</p><p>For customers investigating the authenticity, adulteration, and quality of food or raw materials, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=5&amp;search=liveid"><strong>LiveID</strong></a> uses statistical models to classify samples. First, authentic or verified samples are used to create and validate a statistical model. The validated model can then be used with test samples and generate live classifications with a simple yes/no answer output. LiveID can also do real time <strong>library</strong> matching workflows, where the software matches all compounds in the library against each sample analyzed, giving a score out of <strong>1000</strong>, where values close to 1000 indicate the compound of interest is likely in the sample and lower scores indicate unlikely presence in the sample.</p><p><strong>OpenLynx</strong> processing provides user customizable processing capabilities to generate automated mass confirmation reports in either pdf, printed or browser format.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>IonLynx</strong> allows users to determine levels and relative ratios of analytes of interest in complex samples to aid decision making in QC and formulation monitoring. IonLynx provides automated processing and reporting of non-chromatographic data sets, such as those generated by RADIAN ASAP.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Thermo Scientific ISQ™ EC/EM Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Enhance your IC or LC analysis with ISQ EC/EM mass spectrometers. Enjoy fast setup, high sensitivity, and reliable quantification—even in complex samples—with easy, seamless system integration.

<h4><strong>Thermo Scientific™ ISQ™ EC Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer</strong></h4><p><strong>Add mass spectrometry (MS) to your IC and LC analyses for access to the valuable data that only MS can provide. The new, easy-to-use Thermo Scientific™ ISQ™ EC Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer seamlessly integrates with ion chromatography (IC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems. Both novices and experts alike can quickly master MS to gain more insights from every sample.</strong></p><h5><strong>Gain more insights</strong></h5><ul><li>Higher sensitivity and more accurate quantitation</li><li>Chromatographic peak mass confirmation, eliminating false negatives and false positives</li></ul><h5><strong>Resolve complexity</strong></h5><ul><li>Improved resolution of analytes in complex matrices</li><li>Better selectivity</li><li>Resolve co-eluting peaks using their mass-to-charge ratio</li></ul><h5><strong>Easily mastered</strong></h5><ul><li>Save time spent on user training with integrated tools to help master MS</li><li>Experience hassle-free, seamless integration with your IC or LC system</li><li>Save time using the Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/76"><strong>Chromeleon™ Chromatography Data System (CDS) software</strong></a> for data analysis, which also has embedded control of the ISQ EC mass spectrometer</li></ul><h4><strong>Thermo Scientific™ ISQ™ EM Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer</strong></h4><p>Adding mass spectrometry (MS) to your liquid chromatography (LC) analyses gives you access to the valuable data that only MS can provide. The new, easy-to-use ISQ™ EM Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer seamlessly integrates with LC systems for reliable, robust, and easy LC-MS routine analysis with an extended mass range for more flexibility. Detect and quantify a variety of analytes by choosing to use either heated electrospray ionization (HESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Integrated software allows both novices and experts to quickly master MS to gain more insights from every sample.</p><h5><strong>Gain more insights</strong></h5><ul><li>Extended mass range enables you to detect and quantify small and large molecules</li><li>Durable atmospheric pressure ionization (API) source with two interchangeable probes included, enabling HESI or dual HESI/APCI</li><li>Sensitive and accurate quantitation of more samples</li><li>Chromatographic peak mass confirmation to eliminate false negatives and false positives</li></ul><h5><strong>Resolve complexity</strong></h5><ul><li>Consistent response even with complex matrices</li><li>Better selectivity and sensitivity with chromatographic peak mass confirmation</li><li>Resolution of co-eluting peaks via mass-to-charge ratio</li></ul><h5><strong>Easy mastery</strong></h5><ul><li>Reduce time spent on user training with integrated tools to help master MS</li><li>Unique software translates analyte physical properties into optimal method parameters, helping novice and experts develop methods and improve productivity</li><li>Hassle-free, seamless integration with existing LC systems</li><li>Facilitate data analysis with Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/76"><strong>Chromeleon™ Chromatography Data System (CDS) software</strong></a>, which features embedded control of the ISQ EM mass spectrometer</li></ul><h4><strong>Key Features ISQ™ EC/EM Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers:</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Mass Range:</strong>&nbsp;<ul><li><strong>EC:</strong> 10–1250 m/z with unit mass resolution</li><li><strong>EM:</strong> 10–2000 m/z with unit mass resolution</li></ul></li><li><strong>Polarity Switching:</strong> 25 ms (in HESI mode)</li><li><strong>Scan Rate:</strong> Up to 20,000 Da/sec</li><li><strong>Sensitivity:</strong><ul><li><i>HESI Positive:</i> 10 pg Reserpine, 400:1 RMS at 400 μL/min</li><li><i>HESI Negative:</i> 20 pg p-Nitrophenol, 500:1 RMS at 400 μL/min</li></ul></li><li><strong>Gas Requirements:</strong> Nitrogen (≥ 99% purity), 30 L/min @ 90–110 psig</li><li><strong>Power Supply:</strong> 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz</li><li><strong>Dimensions:</strong> 52 (H) × 42 (W) × 91 (D) cm</li><li><strong>Weight:</strong> Approx. 71 kg (157 lb)</li><li><strong>Unit Size:</strong> Each</li></ul>

Products from category Mass detectors focused on LC/SQ - page 1

Related content

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

CEITEC Microrobots Could Speed Up Beer Production and Food Quality Control

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