Abstract Description: XAD-2 resin plays a crucial role in the collection and analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other air contaminants. This polymeric adsorbent is effective in capturing volatile organic compounds during air sampling, facilitating accurate assessments of environmental pollutants. However, the effectiveness of XAD-2 is significantly influenced by the thoroughness of its cleaning prior to use. The cleaning process can be lengthy and intricate, involving multiple solvent washes and drying phases to eliminate any residual contaminants that could skew analytical results. Having pre-cleaned XAD-2 available for sampling is beneficial as it ensures higher fidelity in the detection of target analytes, thereby enhancing the reliability of the data collected. Methods such as the Other Test Method 45 (OTM-45) and EPA Method 23 emphasize the importance of utilizing clean sampling media to mitigate background interference and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. These methods outline procedures for the effective use of XAD-2, including quality control checks and validation processes to confirm the integrity of the samples. Pre-cleaning of XAD-2 resin was undertaken and the resulting lots of materials were analyzed immediately using extraction methodology of method OTM-45. The samples that were deemed low in PFAS background were sent to several PFAS-testing labs for confirmation of sample cleanliness per methodology of OTM-45. The results of background contamination in the same lot of material as obtained by several labs will be presented and compared. In conclusion, the integration of pre-cleaned XAD-2 into air sampling protocols not only streamlines the sampling process but also significantly improves the accuracy of PFAS and other air contaminant analyses. This presentation will outline the challenges in obtaining and confirming the low PFAS background for the XAD-2 material.
Keywords: XAD-2, PFAS testing, air contaminants
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