Quantitative Determination of Fluorotelomer Sulfonates in Groundwater by LC MS/MS

Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) are complex mixtures containing fluorocarbon- and hydrocarbon-based surfactants that are used to fight hydrocarbon-fueled fires. The military is the largest consumer of AFFF in the United States, and fire-training activities conducted at military bases have led to g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2004-03, Vol.38 (6), p.1828-1835
Main Authors: Schultz, Melissa M, Barofsky, Douglas F, Field, Jennifer A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkanesulfonates - analysis
Applied sciences
Chromatography
Contamination
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Exact sciences and technology
Fluorocarbons - analysis
Groundwater
Groundwaters
Hydrocarbons
Mass Spectrometry
Military bases
Natural water pollution
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Scientific imaging
Spectrum analysis
Sulfur content
Surface-Active Agents - analysis
Surfactants
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) are complex mixtures containing fluorocarbon- and hydrocarbon-based surfactants that are used to fight hydrocarbon-fueled fires. The military is the largest consumer of AFFF in the United States, and fire-training activities conducted at military bases have led to groundwater contamination by unspent fuels and AFFF chemicals. A direct-injection, liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) method was developed to quantify a suite of fluorotelomer sulfonate surfactants in groundwater collected from military bases where fire-training activities were conducted. The 4:2, 6:2, and 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates were detected and quantified in groundwater from two of the three military bases. The total fluorotelomer sulfonate concentrations observed at Wurtsmith AFB, MI, and Tyndall AFB, FL, ranged respectively from below quantitation (≤0.60) to 182 μg/L and from 1100 to 14 600 μg/L. Analyses of a fluorotelomer-based AFFF concentrate by negative ion fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry and LC MS/MS analyses indicate that the AFFF concentrate contains only a small amount of fluorotelomer sulfonates and that fluoroalkylthioamido sulfonates are the main anionic fluorosurfactant in the mixtures. More research is needed to determine the fate of fluoroalkylthioamido sulfonates in the environment.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es035031j