Trudging Through Sludge: Analysis of Trace Level PFAS in Wastewater, Sludge, and Biosolids

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of synthetic fluorinated compounds known for their chemical stability and resistance to water (hydrophobicity) and oil (lipophobicity). These properties have made PFAS valuable in industrial manufacturing, certain firefighting foams, and a wide range of consumer products. Decades of use have resulted in the presence of PFAS in both industrial and residential waste streams. Today, municipalities and industrial dischargers face growing pressure to detect and manage PFAS in wastewater and biosolids.

Just as PFAS cannot be represented by a single compound, wastewater and biosolids encompass a broad spectrum of sample matrices. Influent and effluent may contain flocculant solids, while biosolids can range from liquid to dewatered to fully dried. These sample variations significantly affect sample extraction efficiency, reproducibility, and robustness. In this webinar, we will detail the critical tools used by the laboratory to mitigate matrix impacts from advanced sample pre-preparation to the use of Extracted Internal Standards in isotope dilution analysis. 

Understanding the nature of the sample is an important component to the ensuring confidence in the results. Depending on the sample matrix, additional measures may be required to meet State specific reporting limits or project specific data quality objectives (DQOs).  Join the webinar to hear expert guidance on how robust methodologies produce reliable data even in the most complex and challenging wastewater and biosolid matrices.

Airdate: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 1:30 PM ET

Length: 60 minutes 

Presenter: Jonathan Thorn & Sarah Choyke - Eurofins Environment Testing