The analysis of halogens is of importance in a variety of industries. Ion chromatography (IC) is a commonly used technique for analysis of halogens, whereas argon plasma-based techniques, like ICP-OES or ICP-MS, have limited applications for this purpose. However, its outstanding characteristics as an element selective detection system have led to the development of applications highly complementary to chromatographic techniques, for example, for the detection of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a large class of thousands of synthetic chemicals that are used throughout society. However, they are increasingly detected as environmental pollutants, and some are linked to negative effects on human health.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently evaluating a proposal to restrict PFAS in the EU/EEA, if present at a concentration of more than 50 mg/kg (if not required for targeted analysis). As complex methodologies are required to determine amounts of specific PFAS substances, a restriction would create a need for fast screening methods to ensure compliance in a variety of industries. Whilst IC can be used to measure total fluorine, the use of triple quadrupole ICP-MS could be a potential alternative due to its high robustness and ability to cope with a wide range of sample types with only little or no pretreatment. If a positive result is obtained, further and more exhaustive characterization of a sample can be pursued, for example, by means of combustion IC (CIC) to measure total adsorbable organofluorine (AOF).

This study describes analytical workflows that allow to analyze halogens using ICP-MS, with a special focus on the analysis of fluorine. After successful characterization of the method, it was applied to selected samples in order to verify whether compliance with upcoming ECHA restrictions could be achieved.