Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Environmental Matrices
PFAS are an emerging group of environmental contaminates. Originally developed in the 1940s, PFAS have been used in a wide variety of applications ranging from nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, food packaging, firefighting foams, and even cosmetics. Due to their prevalent use in consumer products and their persistence in the environment, concerns have grown with regards to human health. PFAS have leached into the air, soil, and water, making human exposure widespread, with the most likely sources of exposure coming from contaminated food or water. Historically, the focus of PFAS research has been on drinking water, as the EPA has placed large efforts to regulate this area. PFAS have also been found in non-potable waters (e.g., wastewater, groundwater), which if not treated or properly removed will remain in the environment furthering potential exposure. There is still a need to better understand the fate and transport of PFAS within the environment. Public concern regarding the level of these compounds in environmental sources has required laboratories to develop efficient and reproducible methods for routine analysis. The primary objective of this research project is to develop efficient, sensitive, and reproducible methods of both sample preparation and analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for routine analysis of PFAS in environmental matrices.
Seawater Analysis for Coral Tank Monitoring
Stony corals that form calcium carbonate skeletal structures provide a biodiverse habitat for 25% of marine life. Due to an increased frequency of mass coral bleaching events brought on by climate change, preservation and restoration of coral reefs are of critical importance. Coral preservation is a relatively new field, with much of the efforts spearheaded by volunteers and researchers with limited resources, in need of methods for monitoring analytes in seawater. There is still much to learn about how the quality of environmental waters affect overall coral health whether in a tank or in their natural habitat. The high salinity of seawater complicates detection of analytes because of its complex matrix. The most common detection techniques used for complex matrices are those that utilize mass spectrometry, however, these techniques are not ideal for routine seawater analysis as they are subjected to spectral and chemical interferences, high operating costs, and automation limitations. Suppressed conductivity detection has been alternatively used as a rapid, low-cost alternative to mass spectrometry. The purpose of this project is to develop a rapid, sensitive, reproducible, and low-cost method of seawater analysis for coral tank monitoring via ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection.