PFAS Analysis Supporting U.S. EPA Rule UCMR 5 for Drinking Water

• Sample Matrix: drinking water
• Sample Preparation: samples for UCMR 5 testing are prepared and analyzed following EPA Methods 533 and 537.1 (WAX and S-DVB solid-phase extraction)
• Detection Technique: LC-MS/MS

U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5)

In the U.S., the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) requires the monitoring of 30 contaminants (29 PFAS and lithium) in public drinking water systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that UCMR 5 testing include all PFAS for which a drinking water method has been validated (and that are not subject to a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation); therefore, UCMR 5 includes all 29 PFAS that are within the scopes of EPA Methods 533 and 537.1. While both methods use a C18 column for LC-MS/MS analysis, they differ in sample preparation; 533 uses weak anion exchange (WAX) SPE cartridges, and 537.1 uses styrene-divinylbenzene (S-DVB) SPE cartridges. Both methods allow flexibility in specific areas and prohibit changes in others. The full analyte list and recommended products for PFAS analysis in drinking water for UCMR 5 samples are provided below. In addition, you can register and directly compare analyte lists and matrices across PFAS analysis methods here or visit www.restek.com/PFAS to explore our technical resources for PFAS analysis.

 

Analyte List for EPA UCMR 5 for PFAS Analysis

PFAS acronyms, compound names, and CAS numbers vary across methods and guidelines, and they also depend on compound form (e.g., neutral vs. salt). The following list uses standardized terminology to allow easy comparison across the methods and guidelines in our comprehensive guide. Please refer to U.S. EPA Rule UCMR 5 for method-specific nomenclature.

Acronym	Compound Name	CAS#
NEtFOSAA	N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid	2991-50-6
NMeFOSAA	N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid	2355-31-9
PFBS	Perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid	375-73-5
PFDA	Perfluorodecanoic acid	335-76-2
PFDoA	Perfluorododecanoic acid	307-55-1
PFHpA	Perfluoroheptanoic acid	375-85-9
PFHxS	Perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid	355-46-4
PFHxA	Perfluorohexanoic acid	307-24-4
PFNA	Perfluorononanoic acid	375-95-1
PFOS	Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid	1763-23-1
PFOA	Perfluorooctanoic acid	335-67-1
PFTeDA	Perfluorotetradecanoic acid	376-06-7
PFTrDA	Perfluorotridecanoic acid	72629-94-8
PFUnA	Perfluoroundecanoic acid	2058-94-8
HFPO-DA, GenX	Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid	13252-13-6
PFBA	Perfluorobutanoic acid	375-22-4
PFPeA	Perfluoropentanoic acid	2706-90-3
PFHpS	Perfluoro-1-heptanesulfonic acid	375-92-8
PFPeS	Perfluoro-1-pentanesulfonic acid	2706-91-4
4:2 FTS	1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid	757124-72-4
6:2 FTS	1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid	27619-97-2
8:2 FTS	1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecane sulfonic acid	39108-34-4
9Cl-PF3ONS	9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (F-53B Major)	756426-58-1
11Cl-PF3OUdS	11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (F-53B Minor)	763051-92-9
ADONA	4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid	919005-14-4
PFEESA	Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid	113507-82-7
NFDHA	Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid	151772-58-6
PFMPA	Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid	377-73-1
PFMBA	Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid	863090-89-5

 

Recommended Products for EPA UCMR 5 for PFAS Analysis

ANALYSIS

Analytical LC Columns:

• Raptor C18 SPP column: 50 x 2.1 mm, 2.7 μm (cat.# 9304A52)
• Force C18 FPP column: 50 x 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm (cat.# 9634252)

Delay Columns:

• PFAS delay column: 5 µm, 50 x 2.1 mm (cat.# 27854)
• PFAS delay column: 5 µm, 50 x 3.0 mm (cat.# 580959 [custom product])

STANDARDS

• EPA 537.1 PFAS calibration standard: 2 µg/mL, methanol (1 mM KOH) (cat.# 30735)
• PFAS 24 calibration standard: 1 µg/mL, methanol (1 mM KOH/2-propanol [98:2]) (cat.# 30733)
• PFAS 28 calibration standard: 1 µg/mL, methanol (1 mM KOH/2-propanol [98:2]) (cat.# 30734)

SAMPLE HANDLING

Sample Prep:

• Resprep S-DVB SPE cartridge: 6 mL/500 mg (cat.# 28937)
• Resprep polymeric SPE cartridge: WAX, 6 mL/500 mg, 30 µm (cat.# 28291)
• Resprep polymeric SPE cartridge: WAX, 6 mL/200 mg, 30 µm (cat.# 28292)

Vacuum Manifolds:

• Resprep QR-24 vacuum manifold (cat.# 28299-VM)
• Resprep QR-12 vacuum manifold (cat.# 28298-VM)

Vacuum Pumps:

• Chemker 300 PTFE vacuum pump: 20 L/min, AC110 V, 60 Hz (cat.# 27426)
• Chemker 300 PTFE vacuum pump: 18 L/min, AC220 V, 50 Hz (cat.# 27427)

GENERAL LAB SUPPLIES

• Polypropylene vials: 100-pk. (cat.# 23243)
• Polypropylene vials: 1000-pk. (cat.# 23246)
• Polyethylene vial caps: 100-pk. (cat.# 23244)
• Polyethylene vial caps: 1000-pk. (cat.# 23247)
• Centrifuge tubes: 50 mL, 50-pk. (cat.# 25846)
• Centrifuge tubes: 50 mL, 500-pk. (cat.# 28290)
• Norm-Ject plastic syringe: 10 mL Luer Lock tip (cat.# 22775)
• Norm-Ject plastic syringe: 5 mL Luer Lock tip (cat.# 22774)

 

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