Legacy and emerging PFAS in Veneto region: technical and analytical issues

Acquevenete is a water supplier in the region of Veneto (north-east Italy). Starting from 2013 Perfluoroalkyl substances became a major concern problem for public health in Veneto and Italy. A large portion of one of the greatest aquifer of the region has been heavily contaminated by these substances and the water suppliers had to developed technical solution to remove PFAS from water.

At the same time laboratories needed to develop and validate analytical methods to monitor water quality. The most used technique is U(H)PLC-MS/MS, with preconcentration method or direct injection. In the last years new PFASs emerged as contaminants in drinking water. The one of major interest in the river Po region is the cC6O4, a polyfluorinated substance that requires particular ESI conditions in respect to other PFAS.

The internal laboratory of Acquevenete developed the analytical method and started to monitor the presence of cC6O4 in the production process of drinking water to assess the removal capacity of the plants.

Additional topics will be discussed during this session.

Per-and Polyfluoronated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) by Direct Injection using UPLC-MS/MS to meet EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184) Requirements : Validation and Interlab study results

• Presenter: Hannah Willmer (Waters)

A direct injection method was developed utilizing the ACQUITY I-Class and Xevo TQ-XS to support the monitoring of set limits of PFAS introduced in the recast EU Drinking Water Directive of 2020 in response to the emerging concerns for these classes of chemicals. By using UniSpray, a novel ionization technique and ACQUITY Premier Column technology to enhance performance, it was possible to reduce the limit of quantification achievable without the need for lengthy SPE sample cleanup that is conventionally required for such low levels. In this follow up #BlueThursday session an overview of the validation and subsequent global interlaboratory study results will be discussed.

Analytical Challenges of Haloacetic Acids, oxyanions and polar compounds in drinking water

• Presenter: Janitha D Alwis (Waters)
• Presenter: Stuart Adams (Waters)
• Presenter: Benjamin Wyuts (Waters)

For those who missed episode 1, 2 and 5 of our #Bluethursday webinar, a summary of the methods we have developed to address the analysis of HAA, Oxyanion and polar pesticides in drinking water will be presented.

A live Q&A session will close the session and the #Watersforwater Campaign for 2021.

Presenter: Dr. Anna Moschin (Laboratory Manager, Acquevenete SpA)

Anna has been working at acquevenete since 2017. She is responsible for microbiology and chemical data evaluation and final publication; she also holds the role of laboratory quality manager for the accreditation.

From 2019, Anna is technical inspector for the Italian body of accreditation ACCREDIA.

Presenter: Dr. Giovanni Rizzato (Mass spectrometry technician and technical supervisor, Acquevenete laboratory)

Giovanni gained experience in mass spectrometry during his years in University (Ca’ Foscari, Venice). He has been working as analytical chemist at laboratory of acquevenete since 2018 where is responsible for the LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS analysis of water samples (natural water, groundwater, drinking water, wastewater). The determined analytes include micropollutants such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), SVOCs, VOCs and pesticides

Presenter: Hannah Willmer (Senior Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)

Hannah Willmer is an applications chemist in the European demo lab, based in Wilmslow, UK. Her main role focuses on application development work for the food and environmental sector.

With a background in bioanalysis supporting the pharmaceutical sector, Hannah further developed a passion for the food industry. She cultivated this enthusiasm in a contract organization for 6 years where she managed a team and developed methods for the analysis of food and supplements from nutritional testing to food safety compliance. She specialized within the pesticides and contaminants department with a focus on infant formula which brings its own challenges such as more stringent regulations and high throughput.

As a former research analyst and Waters client Hannah understands the importance of robust and reliable methods to Waters’ customers and strives to enhance the customers’ experience with the quality comprehensive solutions that are essential to meet the demands in modern testing.

Presenter: Benjamin Wuyts, PhD (Senior Solution Support Specialist Europe, Waters Corporation)

Benjamin initially joined Waters as an application chemist working in the Belgian demo lab, performing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrations, support and training. In 2016 Benjamin became a European application chemist focusing on projects to support emerging applications. Benjamin has been focused over several years in establishing the Waters solution to the analysis of polar anionic pesticides, utilising novel column phases and LC-MS/MS technologies.

Presenter: Janitha De-Alwis (Senior Applications Chemist, European Applications Team, Food and Environmental, Waters Corporation)

JD has worked in the chromatography industry for over 10 years and has recently joined Waters Corporation as a senior applications chemist. Prior to joining Waters, JD managed a group at a leading food research and contract organisation. Here, JD helped the food, drink and associated industriesproactivelyand reactively in the area of chemical toxins. As a senior applications chemist, JD now develops new applications with Waters technologies and helps customers with their critical analytical challenges.

Presenter: Dr. Stuart Adams (Principal Scientist, Market Development, Food and Environmental Applications, Europe, Waters Corporation)

Stuart has been developing methods for the determination of contaminants in food and the environment for over 17 years and has been with Waters Corporation since 2018. Stuart's previous role was as a senior analytical chemist at Fera (the UK’s National Reference Laboratory) and moved to Waters to focus on application development in the European region. He now serves as the attached scientist to the European Market Development team responsible for the food and environmental application areas. In his role, he works with customers to understand their analytical challenges and helps address them with Waters technologies.