Elimination of matrix effects during analysis of perfluorinated acids in solid samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Matrix effects can significantly hamper the accuracy and precision of the analysis results of perfluorinated acids （PFAs） in environmental solid samples. Several methods, such as standard addition, isotopically labeled internal standards, clean-up of SPE （solid phase extraction） eluents by dispersive graphitized carbon sorbent and substitution of eletrospray ionization （ESI） source by atmosphere pressure photoionization （APPI） source, were demonstrated for elimination of matrix effects in quantitative analysis of PFAs in solid samples. The resuRs indicate that matrix effects can be effectively eliminated by standard addition, but instrumental analysis time will be multiplied. Isotopically labeled internal standards can effectively negate matrix effects of PFAs with the same perfluorocarbon chain length, but is not valid for the other analytes. Although APPI can eliminate matrix effects for all analytes, it is only suitable for analysis of high pollution levels samples. Clean-up of SPE eluents by dispersive graphitized carbon sorbent not only effectively negate the impact of matrix effect, but also avoid frequent clean of the ESI in order to maintain instrumental sensitivity. Therefore, the best method for elimination of matrix effects is the usage of dispersive graphitized carbon sorbent for clean-up of SPE elution.

Photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by 185 nm vacuum ultraviolet light

The photodegradation of persistent and bioaccumulative perftuorooctanoic acid （PFOA） in water by 185 nm vacuum ultraviolet （VUV） light was examined to develop an effective technology to deal with PFOA pollution. PFOA degraded very slowly under irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, 61.7% of initial PFOA was degraded by 185 nm VUV light within 2 h, and defluorination ratio reached 17.1%. Pseudo first-order-kinetics well simulated its degradation and defluorination. Besides, fluoride ion formed in water, 4 shorter-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids （PFCAs）, that is, perfluoroheptanoic acid, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoropentanoic acid, and perfluorobutanoic acid. These were identified as intermediates by LC-MS measurement. These PFCAs consecutively formed and further degraded with irradiation time. According to the mass balance calculation, no other byproducts were formed. It was proposed that PFCAs initially are decarboxylated by 185 nm light, and the radical thus formed reacts with water to form shorter-chain PFCA with one less CF2 unit.

Enhanced Li+migration in solid polymer electrolyte driven by anion-containing polymer-chains

Li-ion batteries with solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)are safer than conventional liquid electrolytes due to the absence of highly flammable liquid electrolytes.However,their performance is limited by the poor Li+transport in SPEs at room temperature.Anion-containing polymer-chains incorporated SPEs(ASPEs)are therefore developed to enhance Li^(+) diffusion kinetics.Herein,we propose a novel and feasible strategy to incorporate the anion-containing polymer-chains,such as lithiated perfluorinated sulfonic acid(PFSA),into polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)polymer-based SPEs.The immobile anion groups from the PFSA-chains impede the migration of mobile anion groups dissociated from the Li salt.The transference number is thus raised from∼0.3 to 0.52 with the introduction of anion-containing polymer-chains into SPEs.The electrostatic repulsion among anion-containing chains also reduces the close chain stacking and brings 159%increase in the ionic conductivity to 0.83×10^(−3) S/cm at 30℃ in contrast with the pure PVDF-based SPE.In addition,LiFeO_(4)/Li batteries with ASPEs exhibit 55%capacity boost at 0.5 C in contrast to the capacity of batteries with pure-PVDF SPEs,and also offer more than 1000 charge/discharge cycles.Our research findings potentially offer a facile strategy to design thermal stable SPEs with superior Li^(+) transport behaviors towards developing high-performance SPEs-based batteries.

Analysis of PFAAs in American alligators part 1： Concentrations in alligators harvested for consumption during South Carolina public hunts

Environmental contamination resulting from the production or release of harmful chemicals can lead to negative consequences for wildlife and human health. Perfluorinated alkyl acids（PFAAs） were historically produced as protective coatings for many household items and currently persist in the environment, wildlife, and humans. PFAAs have been linked to immune suppression, endocrine disruption, and developmental toxicity in wildlife and laboratory studies. This study examines the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis,as an important indicator of ecosystem contamination and a potential pathway for PFAA exposure in humans. Alligator meat harvested in the 2015 South Carolina（SC） public hunt season and prepared for human consumption was collected and analyzed for PFAAs to determine meat concentrations and relationships with animal body size（total length）, sex, and location of harvest. Of the 15 PFAAs analyzed, perfluorooctane sulfonate（PFOS） was found in all alligator meat samples and at the highest concentrations（median 6.73 ng/g）. No relationship was found between PFAA concentrations and total length or sex.Concentrations of one or all compounds varied significantly across sampling locations, with alligators harvested in the Middle Coastal hunt unit having the highest PFOS concentrations（median 16.0 ng/g; p = 0.0001）. Alligators harvested specifically from Berkley County, SC（located in the Middle Coastal hunt unit） had the highest PFOS concentrations and the greatest number of PFAAs detected（p 〈 0.0001）. The site-specific nature of PFAA concentrations in alligator meat observed in this study suggests a source of PFAA contamination in Berkley County, SC.