Derek J. Mattern, Luca Piatti, Roberto Bozic, Philippe Boniteau and Francisco Ferron
PerkinElmer (https://www.perkinelmer.com)
A large volume direct injection method covering the 20 newly listed PFAS, according to the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, was successfully established and showcased. The method sensitivity and robustness were demonstrated in the three-day experimental setup showing excellent recoveries, linearities and extremely low LOQs for each compound. This clearly shows that the PerkinElmer QSight LC/MS/MS system is fit for purpose when it comes to PFAS analysis. One reason for the excellent sensitivity is the low background noise observed for each these compounds along with minimal contamination. The lack of contamination can be attributed to the PTFE-Free injection kit, where the autosampler is refitted with PEEK lines and a delay column separates any possible contamination. Moreover, the extremely low background can simply be linked to the design of the QSight as it is a flow-based mass spectrometer which not only allows for maximum ion formation, but also reducing any potential chemical noise. Overall, the QSight's combination of sensitivity, versatility, and reliability make it an excellent choice for PFAS analysis in EU drinking laboratories.