scope:

This document specifies a test method including the degradation of certain side-chain fluorinated polymers during the extraction by alkaline hydrolysis and using liquid chromatography (LC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for identification and quantification of certain PFAS.

Classes of PFAS regulated in the EU are listed in Table 2. Where EU proposals on the restriction of particular PFAS were available these substances have been included in this list. Classes of other PFAS not regulated in the EU that can be determined by this document are listed in Annex C, Table C.1. This document is also applicable for further PFAS substances provided that the method is validated with the additional compounds.

The degradation products, n:2 FTOH and PFOA, of some PFAS listed in Table 2 that are regulated but not stable to alkaline hydrolysis will be determined instead of these PFAS. These PFAS are marked accordingly in Table 2. In order to test for these PFAS a description for the extraction by methanol is provided in Annex F. A method using gas chromatography (GC) to detect and quantify the volatile PFAS listed, all of them are not stable to alkaline hydrolysis, is provided in Annex G.