4 Material und Umwelt
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- 2024 (2) (entfernen)
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- Headspace GC-MS (1)
- Lysimeter (1)
- Mikroplastik (1)
- PAK (1)
- Perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA) (1)
- Polyfluorinated alcohol (PFOH) (1)
- Schwermetalle (1)
- TED-GC/MS (1)
- Ultrashort PFAS (1)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 4.3 Schadstofftransfer und Umwelttechnologien (2) (entfernen)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were classified as a group of highly concerning chemicals over the last decades. Because of the high persistence of PFAS, their previous use led to contamination of the environment and human population. Due to ongoing use and incomplete remediation or destruction methods, the PFAS background in the environment is growing continuously.
The presence of ultrashort PFAS (with ≤3 carbon atoms) in the environment is often overlooked despite their contributions to PFAS levels. These compounds may directly contaminate the environment and arise from degradation of polyfluorinated compounds as well as incomplete PFAS destruction in certain industrial processes. Nonetheless, few approaches for targeted analysis of ultrashort PFASs have been developed, except for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Beside liquid (LC-MS/MS), supercritical fluid (SFC-MS/MS), and ion chromatography (IC-MS)-based systems, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a promising method for detection and quantification of ultrashort PFAS.
The goal of this study was to develop a simple headspace GC-MS method for the quantification of ultrashort perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and polyfluorinated alcohols (PFOHs) in water samples. In contrast to PFOHs, functionalization of PFCAs was required for quantification. This was done by esterification with methanol at 80 °C, which can be carried out directly in the headspace GC-MS system.
Moreover, several parameters were optimized to achieve a low limit of quantification (LOQ) for the analytes used: i) The ratio of the aqueous solution, methanol, and available gas phase within the analysis vessel, ii) the concentration of additional acid in esterification mixtures of PFCAs, iii) shaking frequency and iv) shaking time before analysis. After optimizing the procedure, we were able to quantify ultrashort PFCAs and PFOHs. Thus, our developed headspace GC-MS method has the potential to be used as an alternative target analysis for ultrashort-chain PFCAs and PFOHs in various water samples (groundwater, wastewater).
Following the recommendation of the European Chemicals Agency, on 25 September 2023 the European Commission passed a comprehensive new regulation to reduce emissions of microplastics (MP) into the environment, which includes the sale and use of intentionally added MP.1,2 This also applies to the application of synthetic rubber granulate infill in artificial turf systems and will ultimately have an impact on recreational sports. In Germany, rubber granulate made of ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM) is currently predominantly used. So far, there is no sufficient database for estimating MP emissions from artificial turf pitches into the environment and thus their relevance as a source of MP pollution.3 This topic is controversially discussed due to the complexity of sampling and analytics. To close this research gap, this project has the goal to determine mass balances for the emissions of MP from artificial turf pitches to allow an estimation of the amount of MP released per artificial turf pitch and year.
Within this study, MP emissions of three artificial turf scenarios at different time states (unaged, artificially aged and real-time aged) are compared: the past (old turf: fossil based, synthetic infill), present (most commonly installed in Europe: fossil based, EPDM infill), and the future (turf with recycled gras fibres, no synthetic infill). To simulate the outdoor weathering during the lifespan of an artificial turf of approx. 15 years, brand-new artificial turf and EPDM rubber granulate were accelerated aged by means of UV weathering and mechanical stress. Potential MP emissions into surface and groundwater are simulated by lysimeter and shake experiments. MP mass contents are subsequently determined by Thermal Extraction Desorption Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Using special microfilter crucibles allows the estimation of the particle sizes of the emitted MP, which is a fundamental requirement for an assessment of potential health hazards for humans.