Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2024

Major

Biochemistry (B.S.)

Release Option

Open Access

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Worlanyo Gato

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of complex synthetic chemicals that have applications ranging from automotives to consumer products. PFAS have been found to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem as their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) compounds are used as surfactants in water- and stain-repellent coatings for fabrics and carpets, cleaning agents, and paints. The persistence of PFAS has led to their accumulation in sources of groundwater, making them ubiquitous drinking water contaminants of concern with evidence linking PFAS exposure to adverse health effects, including reduced kidney function, thyroid disruption, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

This study evaluates the retention of PFBS in the adipose tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats that were on an eleven-week diet containing a PFBS concentration of 100 parts per million (ppm). The protocol involved the homogenization of adipose tissues and the development of solvent phase extraction methods using methanol and phosphate buffered saline to extract PFBS. The extraction was then followed by further purification and quantification using Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectroscopy.

Results from the mass spectroscopy showed that both solvent extraction methods produced ions with a m/z transition of 298.95>80.10 which is indicative of PFBS fragments. The peak data and standard curve generated from the PFAS internal standard showed that the recovered sampled from the methanol extraction method had a concentration of 2.736 ppb, indicating its effectiveness in isolating PFBS from adipose tissues. Comparative analysis with the PBS extraction method (2.58 ppb) showed methanol to yield higher extraction efficiency under these experimental conditions.

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