Pittcon Preview: Methods for Detecting and Characterizing PFAS in the Environment

Pittcon 2026 (held in San Antonio, TX) will present a session focusing on advances in the detection and characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS persist in water, soil, and air, and bioaccumulate in wildlife and humans, causing cancer, liver/kidney toxicity, thyroid disruption, immune suppression, reproductive harm, and ecosystem degradation with long-term health risks.

Methods for Detecting and Characterizing PFAS in the Environment is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 8, from 8:30 am -11:00 am in Room 303C of the Henry B. González Conference Center. Seven speakers from industry and academics will gather to explore and evaluate approaches for uncovering and distinguishing these chemicals to assess the potential human health and environmental risks they present.

The first speaker, Alicia Stell of CEM Corporation (Matthews, NC ), will present Automating Solvent Extraction of PFAS from Solid Samples: A Closer Look at Increasing Efficiency in the Lab. Here, Stell will discuss a fully automated solvent extraction platform that offers a streamlined solution for rapid PFAS extraction. Stell will speak from 8:30 am–8:50 am.

Stell is followed by Chimauchem Odinaka (The University of Texas at Arlington), and his presentation, Rapid and Simple Evaporative Concentration Approach for the Analysis of Poly- & Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Potable Waters by Liquid Chromatography – High Resolution Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry.To overcome the limitations of traditional, labor-intensive PFAS detection methods, a high-throughput approach was developed using direct evaporation and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The optimized technique Odinaka will present achieves superior sensitivity and faster processing times while enabling both targeted analysis and retroactive screening of these persistent pollutants. Odinaka will speak from 8:50 am–9:10 am.

Following Odinaka is Current LC–MS Approaches for PFAS Analysis with Ultrashort and Long Chain Mixtures, presented by Conner McHale of Advanced Materials Technology (Wilmington, DE). Researchers are working to develop faster, high-throughput PFAS analysis methods that eliminate laborious sample preparation while addressing the challenges of detecting ultrashort-chain "forever chemicals." McHale will discuss how utilizing new superficially porous particle technology with positive charge surface chemistry can improve the retention and resolution of both short-chain and long-chain analytes. McHale will speak from 9:10 am–9:30 am.

Karla Rios Bonilla of the University of Buffalo will then present Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) via Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (SFC-MS). To address the limitations of traditional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) in detecting short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS, researchers have developed an environmentally benign analytical method using SFC-MS, which provides an alternative retention mechanism that effectively identifies and quantifies challenging C2-C4 species within complex environmental matrices. Bonilla will speak from 9:40 am–10:00 am.

Next, Tom Hall of Fluid Management Systems (Billerica, MA) will present Validation of Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Wastewater Samples Using EPA Method 1633 with a Vacuum-Based Automated Solid Phase Extraction System. In his talk, he details how growing concerns over PFAS can be addressed by utilizing an automated vacuum-based system designed to analyze 40 native compounds across diverse, difficult matrices like wastewater and soil. This streamlined approach eliminates sample pretreatment for particulate-laden samples, ensuring high recovery rates and low background contamination while significantly improving throughput. Hall will speak from 10:00 am–10:20 am.

Robert Bradley of Milestone Inc. (Shelton, CT) follows Hall with Tackling PFAS Extraction for Solid Matrices with Microwave Technology. Bradley’s presentation explores how microwave-based extraction workflows overcome the efficiency limitations of traditional techniques when analyzing PFAS in complex solid matrices like soils, biosolids, and tissues. By adopting these advanced workflows, laboratories can improve speed and contamination control while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks such as EPA Method 1633. Bradley will speak from 10:20 am–10:40 am.

Evan Walters of Biotage (Chicago, IL) concludes the session with Troubleshooting Solid Phase Extraction Chemistry for PFAS Testing. Walters’ presentation evaluates how the selection of specific solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents directly impacts the recovery and quantification of PFAS across various environmental matrices. By optimizing sorbent particle size and configurations, researchers demonstrated improved analytical performance and addressed common cleanup challenges to ensure more accurate results for EPA Methods 537.1, 533, and 1633. Walters will speak from 10:40 am–11:00 am.