GBMSDG and MASSEP Joint Meeting - PFAS with Dr. Charles Powley

The Massachusetts Separation Sciences And Detection Technologies Discussion Group (MASSEP) and the Greater Boston Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group (GBMSDG) will be holding a joint event at Northeastern's Burlington Campus (aka BATL).

On December 3rd, Dr. Charles Powley from the Center for PFAS Solutions, will be presenting on: The Role of Analytical Chemistry in PFAS Environmental Issues - Past, Present and Future

📍 Location: 147 S Bedford St, Burlington, MA 01803
📅 Date: December 3rd, 2025

Please note: Due to site security restrictions, registration will close on November 26th and there will be no door sales.

Sponsor:

This will be a member funded event! Thank you for supporting your local discussion groups!

Special thanks to Northeastern Univeristy for providing the event space!

Abstract:

The Role of Analytical Chemistry in PFAS Environmental Issues; Past, Present and Future

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), often dubbed "forever chemicals," are notorious for their persistence and resistance to adsorption due to their surfactant nature and non-stick properties. The documentary "The Devil We Know" and the film "Dark Waters" have brought to light the alarming case of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in Parkersburg, WV, USA. However, the PFAS family is vast, with over four thousand known compounds, most of which remain shrouded in mystery regarding their health effects. The advent of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization around 2000 revolutionized PFAS detection, enabling analysts to identify these chemicals in water at part per trillion (ng/L) levels and in soils, sludges, sediments, and biota at parts per billion (µg/kg) levels. This breakthrough revealed the widespread presence of PFAS in surface and groundwater, and even in human blood.

Today, targeted analysis of 40 or more PFAS using LC-MS/MS is common practice, employing stable isotope internal standards and innovative sample preparation techniques for concentration and purification. However, analysts face significant challenges due to contamination from various fluorinated surfactants and fluoropolymers introduced at every stage of analysis, from sampling to instrumental determination. While standard C18 reversed-phase columns are predominantly used, mixed-mode columns are gaining traction for their ability to streamline methods and measure a broader range of PFAS compounds, including ultrashort and ultralong chain variants. This presentation will delve into the current state of the art, showcasing applications from our laboratory and exploring future directions.

Parking: