Gabriel Garnett / Chemistry & Biochemistry / Faculty Mentor: C. Phillip Shelor
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals we encounter daily in items like non-stick pans, carpet cleaner, and clothing due to their water and grease resistant properties. Deemed “forever chemicals”, PFAS persist in the environment without significant degradation. These compounds have been linked to health concerns such as an increased risk of some cancers, reproductive problems, and weakening of the immune system. PFAS remediation is costly, so analysis is necessary to ensure both safe concentrations in drinking water and better targeted cleanup efforts. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a highly sensitive but expensive method used for analysis of PFAS concentration down to parts-per-quadrillion. The existence of thousands of different PFAS makes target techniques like LC-MS underrepresent total PFAS contents, however. The aim of our project is to develop a sensor for measuring the total organofluorine content regardless of individual species. First, PFAS are introduced into a reactor wherein they are mineralized to produce fluoride which is then measured using a fluoride ion selective electrode (FISE) with a custom flow cell to produce a potentiometric response. We are currently optimizing the sensing conditions to work with this reactor, with the goal being to achieve sub part-per-billion level of analysis.
Leave a Reply