SPME-GC/MS analysis of fluorotelomer alcohols in environmental matrices

CHED 364

Eric C. Panzer, epanzer@wooster.edu and Melissa M. Schultz, mschultz@wooster.edu. Department of Chemistry, The College of Wooster, 943 College Mall, Wooster, OH 44691
Fluorotelomer alcohols are perfluorinated compounds that are the starting products for PTFE, oil repellants, and water repellants. Several proposed mechanisms exist for the degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols to perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) which are persistent, toxic and bioaccumulate. The aim of this project is to develop a method for extraction and quantification of fluorotelomer alcohols in environmental matrices. By utilizing solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron-impact ionization, fluorotelomer alcohols can be monitored while minimizing the use of solvents and sample preparation time. The SPME-GC/MS method, compound-specific selectivity and sensitivity, and its application to environmental aqueous matrices will be presented.