Analysis of Fluorotelomer Alcohols in Ambient Air by Dansyl Chrolide Derivatization LC/MS/MS

In this study, an analytical method of fluorotelomer alcohols including 4 : 2 FTOH, 6 : 2 FTOH, 8 : 2 FTOH, and 10 : 2 FTOH in ambient air by dansyl chloride (DNS-Cl) derivatization LC/MS/MS was investigated. Air samples were collected using a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge connected to a diaphragm pump. The FTOHs were eluted from the cartridge by 4 mL of acetone. The eluted FTOHs were subsequently derivatized by DNS-Cl. The determination of dansylated FTOHs was carried out by LC/MS/MS (ESI+). The averaged recovery rates of the target compounds ranged from 93 % (6 : 2 FTOH) to 110 % (4 : 2 FTOH). The method detection limits (MDL) ranged from 1.5 pg m(-3) (6 : 2 FTOH) to 9.9 pg m(-3) (4 : 2 FTOH). The concentrations of FTOHs in ambient air samples, which were collected at a rooftop of Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (Kazo, Saitama, Japan) in November 2017, ranged from ND (10 : 2 FTOH) to 300 pg m(-3 )(6 : 2 FTOH). The results indicated that FTOHs can be detected from a small-volume sample (approximately 1.4 m(3) for 24 h) using DNS derivatization LC/MS/MS.