Determination of 15 per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances in hydrophyte using ultrasonic extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Phytoremediation techniques for per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of water have recently received considerable global attention, yet the quantitative method for measuring multiple PFAS in hydrophytes is limited. This study addressed this critical gap by developing a highly sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of 15 PFAS in 8 hydrophytes, including emergent plants, floating plants, floating-leave plants, and submerged plants. By leveraging the combination of ultrasonic extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), the method attained remarkable accuracy and sensitivity. Hydrophyte samples were extracted using 2.0 % NH 4 OH-MeOH (methanol) ( v /v) and purified with ENVI-Carb solid-phase extraction cartridges (500 mg/6 cc), ensuring efficient recovery and minimal matrix interference. PFAS separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C 18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), with ionization in negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) mode, and detection in MS E mode. The method demonstrated outstanding performance, with excellent linearity (correlation coefficients ( R 2 ) > 0.99), low method detection limits (MDLs: 0.025–5.0 ng g −1 ), and method quantification limits (MQLs: 0.05–12.5 ng g −1 ). Over 90 % of matrix spiked recoveries at three levels ranged between 60 %–120 %, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 20 %, and no significant matrix effects were observed. Herein, the highly sensitive and accurate method is enable simultaneous PFAS quantification across diverse hydrophyte matrices, offering a robust and practical tool for monitoring and evaluating PFAS contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Its broad applicability to various hydrophyte types further underscore its utility in advancing phytoremediation research.