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A Two-in-One Solution for PFAS SPE Sample Preparation

30 Jun 2026

feature EVSS4368
  • Single cartridge with both WAX and carbon beds simplifies workflows.
  • Factory-packed filter aid saves time and prevents clogs.
  • Ultra-clean sorbents ensure MDLs are met and deliver consistent analytical results.

Streamline PFAS Sample Preparation with Dual-Bed Resprep PFAS Cartridges

Effective sample preparation is a critical step for accurate trace-level per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) analysis in complex matrices, such as non-potable waters, solids, biosolids, tissues, and other environmental samples.

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is typically used with dedicated equipment, and reliable results are difficult to achieve if background PFAS contamination is present or if sample components clog the SPE cartridges.

EPA Method 1633, which has been validated in multiple laboratories following standard operating procedures, uses a wool-packed weak anion exchange (WAX) cartridge for matrix extraction, followed by a dispersive graphitized carbon black (dGCB) cleanup step. Many labs are adopting a carbon cartridge instead of using dGCB.

While effective, this two-cartridge approach with manually packed wool adds extra time, complexity, and risk of cross-contamination from PFAS-containing materials to the sample collection and preparation.

figure evss4368 cartridge alone

Resprep Cartridges for Simplifying PFAS Analytical Methods

PFAS sample preparation can be streamlined significantly with dual-bed Resprep PFAS cartridges, which combine SPE extraction and carbon cleanup into a single cartridge to reduce possible contamination. In this fast, simple workflow, the ultra-clean WAX and CarboPrep Plus sorbents in Resprep cartridges help ensure that method performance requirements for PFAS analysis in drinking water and other samples are met.

In addition, an optional, factory-packed filter aid eliminates the time and variability associated with manually packing glass wool in aqueous sample processing. This ready-to-use solution prevents clogging so that even dirty matrices can be processed quickly with a single extraction.

figure evss4368 01

Meet Performance Requirements Quickly and Consistently

Developed specifically to help labs meet PFAS performance requirements, dual-bed Resprep PFAS cartridges contain ultra-clean, high-quality WAX and carbon sorbent layers that provide effective sample extraction and cleanup. Every lot of our WAX sorbent is tested against Method 1633 PFAS analytes to demonstrate cleanliness and to ensure it does not contribute background PFAS. In addition, our high-performance CarboPrep Plus sorbent provides more effective and consistent cleanup than other carbon materials.

The combination of both sorbents in a single cartridge makes PFAS sample preparation much faster. This results in clean extracts and excellent analytical results when coupled with LC MS or high-resolution mass spectrometry for data analysis (Figure 1 and Table I).

Figure 1: Resprep PFAS cartridges provide effective SPE sample preparation and are faster and easier to use than separate extraction and cleanup procedures.

Figure 1: Resprep PFAS cartridges provide effective SPE sample preparation and are faster and easier to use than separate extraction and cleanup procedures.
EPA Method 1633 PFAS on Force C18 (50 x 2.1 mm) Extracted with Resprep PFAS SPE

LC_EV0599

Peaks

PeakstR (min)Conc.
(ng/L)
Precursor 1Product 1Product 2Precursor 2Product 1
1.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4- 13C3]butanoic acid (13C3-PFBA)1.4855216172–––
2.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4- 13C4]butanoic acid (13C4-PFBA)1.48710217172–––
3.Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)1.48910213169–––
4.Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)2.007522985–––
5.3-Perfluoropropyl propanoic acid (3:3FTCA)2.712.5241177117––
6.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,5- 13C5]pentanoic acid (13C5-PFPeA)2.7655268223–––
7.Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)2.768526321969––
8.Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)3.0062.52998099––
9.Sodium perfluoro-1-[2,3,4- 13C3]butanesulfonate (13C3-PFBS)3.0072.53028099––
10.Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)3.071527985–––
11.Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA)3.333531513583––
12.Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)3.493529520185––
13.1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorohexane sulfonate (4:2 FTS)3.5451032730781––
14.Sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-1-[1,2- 13C2]hexane sulfonate (13C2-4:2FTS)3.55532981309––
15.Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)3.6082.5313269119––
16.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,6- 13C2]hexanoic acid (13C2-PFHxA)3.6092.5315270119––
17.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,6- 13C5]hexanoic acid (13C5-PFHxA)3.612.5318273120––
18.Perfluoropentane sulfonate (PFPeS)3.7182.53498099––
19.2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoro-2-(1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropoxy13C3-propanoic acid (13C3-HFPO-DA)3.7910287169185––
20.Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO-DA)3.79510285169185––
21.Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)4.1742.5363319169––
22.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4- 13C4]heptanoic acid (13C4-PFHpA)4.1742.5367322–––
23.Perfluoro-1-hexane[18O2]sulfonic acid (18O2-PFHxS)4.2182.540384–––
24.Sodium perfluoro-1-[1,2,3- 13C3]hexanesulfonate (13C3-PFHxS)4.2182.54028099––
25.Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS)4.222.53998099––
26.<a class="cmpd_link" title="View compound information for 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)” title=”View compound information for 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)” href=”https://ez.restek.com/compound/view/en/919005-14-4/4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid”>4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)4.2321037725185––
27.2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acid (5:3FTCA)4.24762.5341237217––
28.1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctane sulfonate (6:2 FTS)4.581042740781––
29.Sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-1-[1,2-13C2]-octane sulfonate (13C2-6:2FTS)4.581542981409––
30.Perfluoro-n-[ 13C8]octanoic acid (13C8-PFOA)4.5982.5421376–––
31.Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)4.6012.5413369169––
32.Perfluoro-n-[ 13C4]octanoic acid (13C4-PFOA)4.6012.5417172–––
33.Perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS)4.6212.54498099––
34.Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)4.9442.5463419219––
35.Perfluoro-n-[ 13C5]nonanoic acid (13C5-PFNA)4.9441.25468423–––
36.Perfluoro-n-[ 13C9]nonanoic acid (13C9-PFNA)4.9441.25472427–––
37.Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)4.9492.54998099––
38.Sodium perfluoro-[ 13C4]octanesulfonate (13C4-PFOS)4.952.55038099––
39.Sodium perfluoro-[ 13C8]octanesulfonate (13C8-PFOS)4.952.55078099––
40.3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acid (7:3FTCA)5.04662.5441317337––
41.9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)5.11410531351–533353
42.Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)5.2372.5513469219––
43.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,5,6- 13C2]decanoic acid (13C2-PFDA)5.2371.25515470–––
44.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,5,6- 13C6]decanoic acid (13C6-PFDA)5.2371.25519474–––
45.1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecane sulfonate (8:2 FTS)5.2381052750781––
46.Sodium 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-1-[1,2- 13C2]-decane sulfonate (13C2-8:2FTS)5.238552981509––
47.Perfluorononanesulfonic acid (PFNS)5.2392.55498099––
48.N-methyl-d 3-perfluoro-1-octanesulfonamidoacetic acid (D3-NMeFOSAA)5.3615573419–––
49.N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)5.3662.5570419483––
50.Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS)5.4752.55998099––
51.Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)5.4862.5563519269––
52.Perfluoro-n-[1,2,3,4,5,6,7- 13C7]undecanoic acid (13C7-PFUnA)5.4861.25570525–––
53.N-ethyl-d 5-perfluoro-1-octanesulfonamidoacetic acid (D5-NEtFOSAA)5.4875589419–––
54.N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)5.4872.5584419526––
55.11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)5.5910631451–633453
56.Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)5.6692.549878478––
57.Perfluoro-1-[ 13C8]octanesulfonamide (13C8-PFOSA)5.6692.550678–––
58.Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)5.6912.5613569319––
59.Perfluoro-n-[1,2- 13C2]dodecanoic acid (13C2-PFDoA)5.6921.25615570–––
60.Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid (PFDoS)5.8612.56998099––
61.Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)5.8762.5663619169––
62.Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA)6.0312.5713669169––
63.Perfluoro-n-[1,2- 13C2]tetradecanoic acid (13C2-PFTeDA)6.0311.25715670–––
64.N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NMeFOSA)6.1582.5512219169––
65.N-methyl-D 3-perfluoro-1-octanesulfonamide (D3-NMeFOSA)6.1592.5515219–––
66.N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (NMeFOSE)6.1662561659–––
67.N-methyl-D 7-perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (D7-NMeFOSE)6.1672562359–––
68.N-ethyl-D 5-perfluoro-1-octanesulfonamide (D5-NEtFOSA)6.2952.5531219–––
69.N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NEtFOSA)6.2962.5526219169––
70.N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (NEtFOSE)6.2982563059–––
71.N-ethyl-D 9-perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (D9-NEtFOSE)6.2982563959–––

Conditions

ColumnForce C18 (cat.# 9634252)
Dimensions:50 mm x 2.1 mm ID
Particle Size:1.8 µm
Pore Size:100 Å
Temp.:40 °C
Standard/Sample
Inj. Vol.:3 µL
Mobile Phase
A:Water, 5 mM ammonium acetate
B:Methanol
Time (min)Flow (mL/min)%A%B
0.000.48020
60.4595
6.60.4595
6.610.48020
7.50.48020
Max Pressure:~400 bar
DetectorWaters Xevo TQ-S
Ion Mode:ESI-
Mode:MRM
InstrumentWaters ACQUITY Premier
Sample PreparationResprep PFAS cartridges (cat.# 28930) and a Thermo AutoTrace PFAS instrument were used for the following sample preparation procedure.
1. Spike 500 mL DI water with 200 µL of Wellington EPA-1633STK and 25 µL of Wellington MPFAC-HIF-ES.
2. Rinse cartridge with 15 mL of 1% ammonium hydroxide in methanol.
3. Rinse with 5 mL of 0.3 M formic acid in water.
4. Load sample onto SPE cartridge dropwise at 5 mL/min.
5. Rinse bottle with 5 mL DI water, load onto SPE cartridge dropwise at 5 mL/min, repeat.
6. Rinse bottle with 5 mL of 1:1 0.1 M formic acid:methanol and load onto SPE cartridge dropwise at 5 mL/min.
7. Flow nitrogen through cartridge for 15 minutes.
8. Rinse bottles with 5 mL of 1% ammonium hydroxide in methanol, elute into collection vessel.
9. Add 25 µL of concentrated acetic acid and 25 µL of Wellington MPFAC-HIF-IS.
10. Transfer aliquot to autosampler vial (cat. # 23243) and cap (cat. # 23244).
NotesA PFAS delay column (cat.# 27854) was installed before the injector.

Table I: Target recoveries (70-135%) were met for all PFAS in reagent water samples prepared using Resprep PFAS cartridges.

CompoundAbbreviationMDL (ng/L)Blank (ng/L)*Accuracy (%Recovery)Precision (%RSD)
Perfluorobutanoic acidPFBA0.34ND1125
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acidPFMPA0.20ND1096
3-Perfluoropropyl propanoic acid3:3FTCA0.31ND956
Perfluoropentanoic acidPFPeA0.26ND1116
Perfluorobutane sulfonatePFBS0.19ND1015
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acidPFMBA0.18ND1116
Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acidPFEESA0.15ND945
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acidNFDHA0.46ND1215
1H, 1H,2H,2H-perfluorohexane sulfonate4:2 FTS0.36ND1045
2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acid5:3FTCA1.48ND1026
Perfluorohexanoic acidPFHxA0.08ND1135
Perfluoropentane sulfonatePFPeS0.07ND1224
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA0.40ND11412
Perfluoroheptanoic acidPFHpA0.08ND1095
Perfluorohexane sulfonatePFHxS0.07ND1047
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acidADONA0.39ND999
1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctane sulfonate6:2 FTS0.37ND1074
3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acid7:3FTCA2.32ND1006
Perfluoroheptane sulfonatePFHpS0.76ND1218
Perfluorooctanoic acidPFOA0.32ND1042
Perfluorooctane sulfonatePFOS0.20ND1127
PerfluorooctanesulfonamidePFOSA0.21ND8111
Perfluorononanoic acidPFNA0.08ND1145
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamideNMeFOSA0.07ND10413
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid9Cl-PF3ONS0.61ND8511
Perfluorononanesulfonic acidPFNS0.25ND797
Perfluorodecanoic acidPFDA0.18ND1178
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamideNEtFOSA0.14ND11215
1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecane sulfonate8:2 FTS0.91ND11311
Perfluoroundecanoic acidPFUnA0.26ND12512
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acidNMeFOSAA0.15ND9512
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acidNEtFOSAA0.23ND9312
Perfluorodecanesulfonic acidPFDS0.25ND9423
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid11Cl-PF3OUdS0.56ND7725
Perfluorododecanoic acidPFDoA0.27ND11815
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanolNMeFOSE1.11ND1069
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanolNEtFOSE1.10ND1119
Perfluorotridecanoic acidPFTrDA0.33ND10815
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acidPFDoS0.13ND8912
Perfluorotetradecanoic acidPFTeDA0.32ND10223

*ND = Not detected above MDL.

Factory-Packed Filter Aid Option Ensures Faster, More Effective Sample Prep

Exclusive to Restek as part of comprehensive solutions for PFAS analysis, Resprep PFAS cartridges are also available with a factory-packed filter aid that prevents clogs and keeps samples flowing better than manually packed glass wool.

As shown in Table II, when technicians follow Method 1633 instructions to pack glass wool to half the height of the cartridge barrel for all sample matrices (Section 12.1.1), the amount of wool and packing density can vary significantly, which means sample flow and clogging can also be affected. The filter aid used in Resprep PFAS cartridges is uniform and provides effective, consistent filtering and protection.

In an experiment comparing the flow of diluted ASTM wastewater matrix through Resprep PFAS cartridges with filter aid, WAX cartridges with manually packed wool, and WAX cartridges alone, only the Resprep PFAS cartridges with the factory-packed filter aid did not clog and were able to extract the full sample volume (Figure 2).

Table II: When cartridges are packed manually following the height-based instructions in Method 1633, the amount of glass wool and packing density can vary significantly between cartridges and technicians, which can affect method performance.

Technician 1Technician 2Technician 3Technician 4
Average mg wool (n = 3)3915051116
SD213749
%RSD5%8%14%42%
Figure 2: Only Resprep PFAS cartridges with a factory-packed filter aid successfully extracted all 500 mL of 2.5x diluted ASTM wastewater matrix (total suspended solids = 100 mg/L).
figure evss4368 02

Simplify your sample prep—save time, reduce variation, and ensure performance with Resprep PFAS cartridges with a factory-packed filter aid! 

Prodotti Menzionati


Colonna LC Force C18, 1,8 µm, 50 x 2,1 mm
Cartuccia Resprep PFAS SPE con Filtro Ausiliario, 6 mL, 2000 mg/WAX 150 mg/GCB 50 mg, 30-pz.
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PFAS Delay Column, 5 µm, 50 x 2,1 mm, colonna HPLC
Vacuum Manifold Resprep QR-12
Liner a sostituzione rapida in PTFE per collettori da vuoto Resprep QR, 100 pz.
Sistema di distribuzione campione Resprep, 6 pz.
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