Author Identifier (ORCID)
Masoumeh Zargar: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9811-6156
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that are highly resistant to biodegradation. Due to their bioaccumulation, long-term persistence, and adverse human health effects, they have been classified as organic pollutants. The leaching of PFAS into water sources has resulted in their detection in global drinking water supplies. To mitigate adverse health effects and minimise environmental damage, regulations regarding maximum allowable PFAS concentrations in water have been imposed. Traditional PFAS in water quantification methods, such as liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), have intrinsic limitations that pose challenges in such PFAS analysis. To ensure compliance with these regulations, it is essential to have accurate and easily accessible methods of detecting PFAS in water. This study demonstrates a proof-of-concept application of solid phase extraction coupled with mobile benchtop 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SPE-NMR) spectroscopy for the quantification of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water at ppm-level concentrations. SPE–NMR offers a robust, portable, and fluorine-selective approach to PFAS quantification, with key methodological contributions including the first application of quantitative low-field benchtop 19F NMR in an SPE–NMR workflow. This work establishes the feasibility of the approach and identifies a clear pathway for future sensitivity improvements through process optimisation.
Keywords
Low field NMR, PFAS, solid phase extraction
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
7-1-2026
Volume
388
Publication Title
Journal of Magnetic Resonance
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
Funders
Australian Research Council (Discovery Grant no. DP230100248).
Grant Number
ARC Number : DP230100248
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Ling, N. N., Ghasemi, S., Shilliday, E. R., Zargar, M., Fridjonsson, E., & Johns, M. L. (2026). PFAS quantification using solid phase extraction and low field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SPE-NMR). Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 388, 108070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2026.108070