Analysis of a broad range of perfluoroalkyl acids in accipiter feathers: method optimization and their occurrence in Nam Co Basin,Tibetan Plateau

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitous in the environment. They are prone to accumulate in organisms and have raised public attention in recent decades. Feather samples have been successfully applied as nondestructive indicators for several contaminants. However, a sophisticated analytical method for determining PFAAs in feathers is still lacking. In the present study, a series of conditions, such as the use of the solid-phase extraction cartridge type and extraction/digestion methods, were optimized for the analysis of 13 PFAAs in feathers. According to the spiked recoveries, a weak-anion exchange cartridge was chosen and the methanol was selected as the extraction solvent. In the present study, an optimized pretreatment procedure combined with high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC–ESI–MS/MS) method was established for the determination of PFAAs in feathers. The recoveries and method detection limits of the PFAAs ranged from 71 to 120% and 0.16 to 0.54 ng/g, respectively. Finally, 13 PFAAs in four accipiter feather samples from Nam Co Basin, Tibetan Plateau, were analyzed, indicating that PFOS was the predominant PFAA in accipiter feathers, with an average of 4.67 ng/g, followed by the short-chain PFAAs, PFBS and PFBA, with averages of 1.91 and 1.39 ng/g, respectively. These results partly indicated the current situation of PFAA pollution in the Nam Co Basin, especially the existence of short-chain PFAAs in this region.     

Nonylphenol photodegradation by novel ternary MIL-100（Fe）/ZnFe2O4/PCN composite under visible light irradiation via double charge transfer process

Nonylphenol（NP） residues, as a typical endocrine disrupting chemical（EDC）, frequently exist in sewage, surface water, groundwater and even drinking water, which poses a serious threat to human health due to its bioaccumulation. In order to remove NP, a series of MIL-100（Fe）/Zn Fe₂O₄/flake-like porous carbon nitride（MIL/ZC） was synthesized through in-situ synthesis at room temperature. High performance of ternary MIL/ZC is used to degrade NP under visible light irradiation. ...     

Characterization of municipal solid waste incineration and flue gas emission under anoxic environment in Tibet Plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Waste incineration is a process of full combustion reaction between waste and oxygen at high temperature. It is a new problem whether the special...     

A microscopic and quantitative analysis on the separation of chloride ion by fly ash washing: Effect of liquid-to-solid ratio,washing time and temperature

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In order to understand the removal characteristics of Cl? (chloride ion) in the fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration, so as to...     

Application of two modified kaolin materials in removing micro-plastics from water

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Some modified kaolin materials have the potential as adsorbents for the removal of numerous pollutants. In view of this, we developed two modified...