TY - CHAP A1 - Vogel, Christian A1 - Slee, D. ED - Naidu, R. T1 - Chapter 5 Analytical techniques for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of various anthropogenic organic products, in which the hydrogen atoms on the carbon skeleton of at least one carbon atom have been completely replaced by fluorine atoms. Because this group contains more than 7 million compounds, they can have very different properties. PFAS analysis in environmental samples is currently mainly utilized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and related techniques as well as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to conduct target analysis. However, to get a better overview of the amount of “total” amount of PFAS, sum parameter methods like total oxidizable precursor assay (TOPA), absorbable organic fluorine (AOF), and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) are in development. Additionally, for research purposes, several spectroscopical methods like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, particular induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy as well as19 F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared, and Raman spectroscopy are available. Therefore, an overview is given on currently available analytical techniques for PFAS in environmental samples and their application possibilities discussed for different kinds of PFAS subgroups. KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Analytics KW - Liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) KW - Sum parameter PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110796797-005 SP - 143 EP - 168 PB - De Gruyter AN - OPUS4-62662 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vogel, Christian A1 - Roesch, Philipp A1 - Wittwer, Philipp A1 - Piechotta, Christian A1 - Lisec, Jan A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Kluge, Stephanie A1 - Herzel, Hannes A1 - Huthwelker, T. A1 - Borca, C. A1 - Simon, Franz-Georg T1 - Levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various wastewater-derived fertilizers - Analytical investigations from different perspectives N2 - Solid wastewater-based fertilizers were screened for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by the extractable organic fluorine (EOF) sum parameter method. The EOF values for ten sewage sludges from Germany and Switzerland range from 154 to 7209 mg kg−1. For thermal treated sewage sludge and struvite the EOF were lower with values up to 121 mg kg−1. Moreover, the application of PFAS targeted and suspect screening analysis of selected sewage sludge samples showed that only a small part of the EOF sum parameter values can be explained by the usually screened legacy PFAS. The hitherto unknown part of EOF sum parameter contains also fluorinated pesticides, pharmaceutical and aromatic compounds. Because these partly fluorinated compounds can degrade to (ultra-)short PFAS in wastewater treatment plants they should be considered as significant sources of organic fluorine in the environment. The combined results of sum parameter analysis and suspect screening reveal the need to update current regulations, such as the German fertilizer ordinance, to focus not solely on a few selected PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) but consider an additional sum parameter approach as a more holistic alternative. Moreover, diffusion gradient in thin-films (DGT) passive samplers were utilized as an alternative simplified extraction method for PFAS in solid wastewater-based fertilizers and subsequently quantified via combustion ion chromatography. However, the DGT method was less sensitive and only comparable to the EOF values of the fertilizers in samples with >150 mg kg−1, because of different diffusion properties for various PFAS, but also kinetic exchange limitations. KW - Combustion ion chromatography KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Sewage sludge KW - Fertilizer PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-583429 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3va00178d SN - 2754-7000 VL - 2 IS - 10 SP - 1436 EP - 1445 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - London AN - OPUS4-58342 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Quantification of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids in Water Samples via Static Headspace Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry N2 - Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) are one of the most prominent and studied subgroups of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which have attracted great interest in environmental and toxicology research due to their intensive use in combination with their persistence, mobility and potential threat to ecosystems and human health. The standard method to quantify PFCAs in water samples is liquid chromatography or, for additional quantification of ultrashort-chain PFCAs (carbon chain length of two or three carbon atoms) too, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, in each case coupled with mass spectrometry. However, there are a lot of laboratories using MS coupled to headspace gas chromatography systems (HS-GC-MS), usually to quantify a wide range of volatile organic compounds. While PFCAs themselves are difficult to measure with HS-GC-MS in water samples, this challenge can be solved by derivatizing the acids to more volatile compounds, like esters. This approach could enable laboratories using HS-GC-MS to analyse and monitor PFCAs in environmental water samples. By following this idea, we successfully developed a HS-GC-MS method to quantify PFCAs in ultrapure water. Trifluoric acid (TFA), perfluoropropionic acid (PFPrA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOS) served as exemplary analytes of PFCAs, which were derivatized with methanol and concentrated sulfuric acid to form methyl esters. The method was optimized by varying different preparation and measurement parameters, leading to limits of detection and quantification in the two-digit ppt-range for all four analytes. The method was than tested on various real water samples, including tap and bottled water, groundwater, landfill leachate, treated wastewater and impinger water from a sewage sludge incineration experiment. Furthermore, snow samples from a ski slope were analysed too. TFA was the most frequently detected PFAA, with concentrations in the ppt and low ppb range. The detection and quantification of the remaining three PFCAs vary with the sample types and sampling location.Our results show that HS-GC-MS is suitable, and enables laboratories with this technique, to quantify PFCAs water samples. T2 - SETAC Europe CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Groundwater KW - GC-MS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63094 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Detection, quantification, and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater (DFEAT-PFAS) N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals used in the formulations of thousands of consumer goods. Because of the recent regulations and restrictions on the use of long chain (≥C8) PFAS a significant shift in the industry towards short (C4-C7) and ultrashort (C1-C3) chain alternatives has been recognized the last years. Due to the high polarity and water solubility of ultrashort PFAS, the potential for bioaccumulation is low. However, the high persistence of ultrashort-chain PFAS will result in environmental accumulation, especially in aquatic environments, leading to potential risks for aquatic organisms and increased human external exposure through drinking water. Ultrashort PFAS like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) are low to moderately toxic to a range of organisms. In the project we are focusing on detecting and removing PFAS, especially ultrashort-chain PFAS from contaminated groundwater. Therefore, we suggest developing and optimizing short- and ultrashort-chain PFAS detection, quantification, and removal. We will design passive sampling devices, which can collect and monitor the temporal profile of PFAS species in groundwater. This will allow us to analyze PFAS contaminations in German and Israeli groundwater using state-of-the-art novel analytical techniques. In addition, contaminated groundwater will be treated via a two-stage process, designed to concentrate the relatively low PFAS concentrations by novel membrane processes including closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) and mixed matrix composite nanofiltration membranes (MMCM). Afterwards the rejected streams, containing higher concentrations of PFAS will be treated by coagulation and the remaining PFAS adsorbed onto carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs). T2 - SETAC Europe CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Groundwater KW - Remediation PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63095 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Current status of monitoring of PFAS release from industrial facilities N2 - Increasing studies report per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the ambient air and emissions from diverse industrial sources. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for characterizing PFAS emissions by identifying source-specific chemical fingerprints, evaluating emission pathways and assessing the impact of remediation technologies is needed. Depending on the type of PFAS, dedicated sampling and analytical procedures are required. Here, also the detection of possible PFAS transformation products, so-called products of incomplete combustion (PICs) are more mobile or toxic, is also of great interest to evaluate these technologies in terms of mineralisation potential and fluorine mass balance. T2 - PFAS study and technical exchange tour of MEE-FECO in Germany CY - Online meeting DA - 12.09.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Incineration PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64081 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in ski waxes and snow from cross-country skiing in Germany - Comparative study of target analysis and sum parameters N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can enter the environment in different ways. Possible sources are PFAS containing consumer products. One common product that makes use of the material properties of PFAS is ski wax. Here, the PFAS ensure less frictional resistance, thus allows for increased speed. However, people who wax their ski with these waxes could absorb PFAS in their body, which can lead to health problems in the long term. Moreover, PFAS applied in ski wax abrade onto snow during use, which contaminates the environment. In our study, we analyzed various currently available ski waxes (2020s) and ski waxes from the 1980s with PFAS target analysis and with the sum parameters extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF), hydrolysable organically bound fluorine (HOF) and total fluorine (TF). Moreover, snow samples from the long-distance cross-country ski trail “Kammloipe” in the Ore mountains in Germany where sampled and analyzed with PFAS target analysis and the adsorbable organically bound fluorine (AOF) sum parameter to document the entry of PFAS from ski waxes into the environment. In opposite to the ski waxes from the 1980s much more ski waxes from the 2020s contain high (total) fluorine values. The highly fluorinated ski waxes contain up to approx. 6% of fluorine. The EOF and HOF sum parameters of the ski waxes are strongly decreased in comparison to the TF values (max. approx. 1000 mg/kg = 0.1%). But even the PFAS-free labeled ski waxes have EOF/HOF values in the low mg/kg range. In the snow samples from different spots of the ski trail, both the AOF sum parameter and the PFAS target analysis identified PFAS. Moreover, on a PFAS hotspot also soil samples were analyzed, which indicate that PFAS from the ski waxes adsorb after snow melting into the soil. Thus, our results show that the use of ski waxes is a possible contribution to the environmental contamination of PFAS, which is hopefully drastically reduced with the ban on fluorinated waxes by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). T2 - SETAC Europe CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Contaminated Soil KW - Ski wax PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63096 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Investigating the Thermal Decomposition of PFAS in a Full-Scale Commercial Hazardous Waste Incinerator N2 - Incineration is currently the only commercial full-scale technology available to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in large solid and liquid waste streams. Given previous experience of dioxin formation during halogenated waste incineration, concerns about the emission of products of incomplete destruction (PIDs) from PFAS incineration exist. The overarching objective of this project is to track the fate of fluorine during full-scale hazardous waste incineration in order to demonstrate the readiness, viability, and level of safety for thermal PFAS destruction in various waste streams. The specific objectives of this project are (1) to enhance our understanding of key variables and conditions on PFAS incineration performance, (2) to identify major PIDs under insufficient treatment conditions, (3) to explore the catalytic role of fly ash and other process-relevant surfaces in thermal PFAS decomposition, and (4) to determine the potential formation of polyfluorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. T2 - CEN/TC 264/WG48 Symposium - Emissions and ambient air - Determination of PFAS CY - Düsseldorf, Germany DA - 16.07.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Incineration PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63714 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Current status of monitoring of PFAS release from industrial facilities N2 - Increasing studies report per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the ambient air and emissions from diverse industrial sources. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for characterizing PFAS emissions by identifying source-specific chemical fingerprints, evaluating emission pathways and assessing the impact of remediation technologies is needed. Depending on the type of PFAS, dedicated sampling and analytical procedures are required. Here, also the detection of possible PFAS transformation products, so-called products of incomplete combustion (PICs) are more mobile or toxic, is also of great interest to evaluate these technologies in terms of mineralisation potential and fluorine mass balance. T2 - Consortium for analysis and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (CAR-PFAS Japan) visit Uni Örebro CY - Online meeting DA - 09.10.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Incineration KW - Remediation PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64318 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Analysis of fluorine/PFAS in battery black mass at HESEB N2 - Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are a safe, cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, but industrial-scale recycling is not yet available. The recycling process faces challenges, especially in purifying materials like lithium, phosphate, and iron, and managing fluorine contamination from fluoropolymers and salts (including PFAS). Fluorine K-edge XANES spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical states of fluorine in the recycled materials for a safe reuse of elements and defluorination. T2 - SESAME – Germany Support and Networking Meeting CY - Hamburg, Germany DA - 30.06.2025 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Battery PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63560 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Vogel, Christian T1 - Investigating the Thermal Decomposition of PFAS in a Full-Scale Commercial Hazardous Waste Incinerator N2 - Effective and safe treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-laden waste in full-scale hazardous waste facilities is currently the only commercial method for large-scale PFAS destruction, but concerns remain about incomplete combustion and harmful byproducts. Therefore, the fate of fluorine during incineration was investigated in a full-scale hazardous waste incinerator to assess the viability and potential risks of this method. The project involves developing advanced analytical tools, including real-time infrared spectroscopy, and conducting trial burns under varied conditions. Conditions that influence incineration performance are identified, analyzing for products of incomplete destruction (PIDs), exploring the role of fly ash and surfaces in PFAS breakdown, and evaluating the potential formation of polyfluorinated dioxins and furans. Collectively, these tasks aim to deliver practical tools and guidance for scientists and engineers, while informing policymakers and the public on the benefits and potential risks of PFAS incineration. T2 - DoW Applied Innovation Workshop CY - Washington, DC, USA DA - 02.03.2026 KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Incineration PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65638 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -