SilcoTek inert coatings are specially designed to improve the detection and analytical accuracy of trace-level chemical compounds that are sensitive to and interact with metal flow path surfaces. With increasing global regulations for monitoring and eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the need to measure these chemical compounds at low levels is becoming paramount. Analysts are quickly finding that some of these compounds are sensitive to metal sampling and analysis hardware, such as sample storage vessels, injection ports, tubing, and valves.
In a recent webinar hosted by Separation Science, the Food Science and Food Contact Material group at the Technische Universität Dresden and Markes International presented, "Emissions of PFAS from fluoropolymer-coated cookware: Analytical advances and findings." The webinar discussed the analytical advances and findings of the analysis of emissions of PFAS from fluoropolymer-coated cookware and indoor and ambient air samples.
PFAS are widely used chemicals in consumer and industrial products. PFAS are in cosmetics, non-stick cookware, food packaging, weatherproof clothing, and other common products people encounter every day. PTFE (Teflon®) and other PFAS are also found throughout industrial processes as coatings that improve chemical resistance, non-wetting, and other surface properties of metals.
The use of PFAS chemicals is so widespread that they are detectable in the blood of humans and animals and are present at low levels throughout the environment. As a result of scientific studies linking PFAS to health and environmental problems, regulatory agencies like the EPA and ECHA have introduced proposals to significantly limit the use of these chemicals. SilcoTek's environmentally friendly coatings provide equal or often better performance than PFAS coatings like PTFE for a variety of applications.
The Separation Science webinar highlights the use of an analytical system containing sample storage and flow path materials coated with SilcoNert to enable low-level detection of PFAS materials in PTFE-coated cookware and from emissions of PFAS incineration systems. The speakers discuss the ability of these systems to detect picogram-level concentrations, an extremely low detection limit that is enabled by SilcoTek’s coatings and the chemical inertness they impart on the stainless steel flow path.
How does SilcoTek help?
SilcoTek coatings provide several specific advantages for air sample analyses of PFAS, which are a group of synthetic chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. PFAS compounds are also known for their stability and low reactivity, but they can still interact with surfaces of sampling equipment, leading to adsorption and sample loss. SilcoTek coatings like SilcoNert® and Dursan® offer highly inert and non-reactive surfaces that minimize the interaction between PFAS compounds and the sampling equipment. This ensures that the collected sample remains representative of the actual air composition.
One of the critical challenges in PFAS analysis is the tendency of these compounds to adsorb onto surfaces, leading to lower recovery rates and inaccurate quantification. SilcoTek coatings significantly reduce adsorption, enhancing the recovery rates of PFAS during air sampling and analysis. PFAS analysis requires extremely clean and contaminant-free environments because these substances are often present at very low concentrations. SilcoTek-coated equipment reduces the risk of contamination from the sampling canisters themselves, ensuring more reliable and accurate results. By minimizing adsorption and contamination, SilcoTek coatings help improve the sensitivity and lower the detection limits of PFAS analyses. This is essential for detecting trace levels of PFAS in air samples, which is crucial for environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance.
Air cans like the above are used to collect samples for analysis. With coatings like SilcoNert, samples can be stored for long periods of time without adsorption.
PFAS sampling may involve exposure to various environmental conditions that could corrode traditional sampling equipment. SilcoTek coatings provide excellent corrosion resistance, ensuring the longevity and reliability of the sampling canisters.
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Here is an example of stainless steel sample cylinders containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) gas, two highly corrosive and reactive sulfur compounds. In comparison to the uncoated sample cylinder that experienced 100% loss of the sample at the end of day 1 due to adsorption, the SilcoNert-coated cylinders maintained the entirely of the original sample over 1 week.
The inert and stable nature of SilcoTek coatings ensures consistent performance across multiple analyses. This reproducibility is critical for generating reliable data over time and across different sampling events, which is essential for long-term environmental studies and regulatory assessments. SilcoTek-coated surfaces are easier to clean and decontaminate, which is vital for preventing cross-contamination between samples. This allows for the reliable reuse of sampling canisters, reducing costs and ensuring consistent analytical results.
By addressing these challenges, SilcoTek coatings enhance the overall reliability, accuracy, and efficiency of PFAS chemical analysis. SilcoNert-coated sampling and chromatography equipment play a key role in advancing science, public health, and regulatory monitoring efforts. Be sure to check out the webinar to see SilcoTek-coated hardware in action!
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