Breaking boundaries in AOF analysis

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, have become a global concern due to their persistence in the environment and serious health risks. Traditionally used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foams or water-resistant textiles, PFAS are now under intense scrutiny, with governments and industries racing to find more effective ways to detect and regulate them.

While advanced LC-MS/MS techniques have been a popular method for quantifying specific PFAS compounds, they come with high initial and operational costs and limitations. As an alternative, measuring Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF) offers a powerful screening approach - one that’s gaining momentum. Standardisation bodies such as DIN and the US EPA have already published AOF-focused methods (DIN 38409-59 and EPA 1621), with others like ISO and ASTM following soon.

Enter Trace Elemental Instruments’ Xprep C-IC system: a game-changing solution that automates and accelerates AOF analysis. The Xprep C-IC combines high-efficiency sample combustion and advanced ion chromatography, reducing analysis time per sample to less than 10 minutes. It integrates seamlessly with the Xprep-A6 model AOF sample preparation unit and Tuscan model AOF autosampler, which together ensure precision, reduce human error, and eliminate manual handling.

Key innovations include the 6-channel Xprep-A6 sample prep system with fully automated washing and an intuitive interface. During analysis, PFAS compounds are adsorbed on activated carbon, combusted at high temperatures, and measured via ion chromatography—all in a streamlined, automated workflow.

The Xprep C-IC’s use of low-fluorine quartz columns, a controlled sample environment, and smart sample fraction collection ensures high sensitivity and repeatability. With built-in flexibility for online or offline IC integration, labs can optimise throughput without sacrificing data quality.

As regulatory limits for AOF concentrations begin to take hold globally, the Xprep C-IC stands out as the go-to platform for laboratories aiming to stay ahead in PFAS solutions.