In recent years, concerns regarding the presence of forever chemicals like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pesticide residues in our environment and food chain are growing, and for good reason.
PFAS compounds are neurotoxic, interfere with reproduction and development, and are harmful to both humans and wildlife. As a result, precise test methods to detect and quantify these biohazards are essential to global health.
To meet this requirement, specially designed consumables help prevent cross-contamination between your samples and analytical instruments, playing a vital role in supporting precise and efficient analysis.
1. Chemically inert sample containers
Accurate testing begins with proper sample collection. Look for stable consumable materials designed to meet the highest standards, ensuring reliable and representative sampling.
Using an inert polypropylene or polyethylene vial or well plate is imperative when analyzing compounds with strong electronegative functional groups, particularly for analytes with lower concentrations like PFAS.
To further assure no contamination or background corruption, you can use one-piece polypropylene snap ring caps or polypropylene 9 mm screw thread caps with a thinned penetration area.
When resealing for multiple injections, we recommend a snap ring or screw thread caps with a silicone/polyimide septum for trouble-free analysis.
2. Robust extraction methodologies
The extraction of PFAS and pesticides from various matrices is a critical step in the testing process. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, for example, are specially designed to help you extract and purify target compounds, ensuring optimal recovery rates and minimizing matrix interferences.
3. Precise chromatographic separations
Your best choice of consumables, including columns, vials, and septa, will deliver high performance and reliability during chromatographic separation.
For high retentivity and large-volume direct injections, a fully porous column such as Thermo Scientific™ Acclaim C18 delivers an excellent peak shape for PFAS testing.
On the other hand, when you have smaller sample injection volumes, Thermo Scientific AccucoreRP-MS are better suited. These columns have a solid core that provides excellent chromatographic separation and maintains robustness in challenging water matrices.
4. Sensitive and confident detection
Sensitive and selective detection methods like mass spectrometry (MS) are essential for the reliable identification and quantification of your PFAS and pesticide samples.
Sample vials, liners, isolator columns, and capillary columns are among the consumables that can improve the overall sensitivity and detector performance.
You should look into using an isolator column to help separate the PFAS background contaminants from sample PFAS analytes, to prevent cross-contamination and get a more accurate analysis. For this, we recommend Thermo Scientific Accucore C18 column.
5. Meets strict quality control standards
To ensure the reliability and accuracy of PFAS and pesticide residue testing, quality control measures are crucial.
Make sure your consumables are manufactured under strict quality control protocols, adhering to industry standards and regulations. This ensures your consumable meets the required U.S. federal regulations for reliable testing, minimizing the potential for errors and deviations.
You can minimize the risk of contamination to your chromatographic equipment by using a dedicated PFAS kit, which includes PFAS free-tubing and fittings, solvent filter inlets, and an isolator column.
Changing the tubing and using an isolator column as part of the solution to separate the sample PFAS from your LC system PFAS will result in more accurate and precise quantitation.
PFAS consumables available online
By utilizing high-quality consumables, your lab can get accurate, dependable data for PFAS and pesticide residue analysis, contributing to a safer and healthier planet and food supply.
Our custom line of chromatography consumables is designed to support accuracy and precision in every analysis from sample collection to detection, ensuring you get quality data.
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