Optimization of Extractable and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine analytical methods for the quantification of non-target Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

This thesis addresses the critical limitations of traditional LC-MS/MS analysis, which targets only 20 to 50 specifics per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and captures a mere 1-5% of the total organofluorine mass balance in environmental matrices. To bridge this substantial analytical gap, this work focuses on the optimization, experimental verification, and comparative assessment of two complementary sum-parameter methods: Extractable Organic Fluorine (EOF) and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF). Utilizing an advanced Xprep Combustion Ion Chromatography (C-IC) system, robust sample preparation and combustion workflows were established to enable the quantitative conversion of organic fluorine into fluoride for IC detection. The methodological parameters, including extraction efficiency, adsorption dynamics, matrix effect mitigation, and combustion stability, were systematically evaluated and verified across diverse environmental samples. Comparative performance assessments between EOF and AOF highlight their respective strengths, recovery rates, and detection limits in capturing both targeted and unknown organofluorine compounds. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that C-IC sum-parameter workflows provide a far more comprehensive screen of total organofluorine contamination, delivering a vital tool for environmental risk assessment and regulatory compliance.