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Research Focus

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Analysis

Developing extraction and analytical methods to quantify PFAS in different environmental matrices.

Exposure

Assisting local PFAS-impacted communities quantify their exposure to PFAS through drinking water, food, air, etc.

Occurrence

Combining different chromatography techniques (LC/MS, GC/MS, combustion IC, ICP-MS , etc.) to determine a wide range of PFAS in the coastal environment.

Treatment

Assessing granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX) resin and novel alternative adsorbents for PFAS removal using rapid small-scale column tests.

Publication

1 /

Meng, P.; DeStefano, N. J.; Knappe, D. R. U., Extraction and Matrix Cleanup Method for Analyzing Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Acids and Other Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Fruits and Vegetables. J Agric Food Chem 2022, 70, (16), 4792-4804.

2 /

Ruyle, B. J.; Pickard, H. M.; Schultes, L.; Fredriksson, F.; Heffernan, A. L.; Knappe, D. R. U.; Lord, H. L.; Meng, P.; Mills, M. A.; Ndungu, K.; Roesch, P.; Rundberget, J. T.; Tettenhorst, D. R.; Van Buren, J.; Vogel, C.; Westerman, D. C.; Yeung, L. W. Y.; Sunderland, E. M., Interlaboratory Comparison of Extractable Organofluorine Measurements in Groundwater and Eel (Anguilla rostrata): Recommendations for Methods Standardization. Environ Sci Technol 2023.

3 /

Fang, Y.; Meng, P.; Schaefer, C.; Knappe, D. R. U., Removal and destruction of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) in an anion exchange resin and electrochemical oxidation treatment train. Water Res 2023, 230, 119522.

4 /

Meng, P.; Deng, S.; Lu, X.; Du, Z.; Wang, B.; Huang, J.; Wang, Y.; Yu, G.; Xing, B., Role of air bubbles overlooked in the adsorption of perfluorooctanesulfonate on hydrophobic carbonaceous adsorbents. Environ Sci Technol 2014, 48, (23), 13785-92.

5 /

Meng, P.; Jiang, X.; Wang, B.; Huang, J.; Wang, Y.; Yu, G.; Cousins, I. T.; Deng, S., Role of the air-water interface in removing perfluoroalkyl acids from drinking water by activated carbon treatment. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2020, 386.

6 /

Meng, P.; Deng, S.; Maimaiti, A.; Wang, B.; Huang, J.; Wang, Y.; Cousins, I. T.; Yu, G., Efficient removal of perfluorooctane sulfonate from aqueous film-forming foam solution by aeration-foam collection. Chemosphere 2018, 203, 263-270.

Lab Space

Available instruments in the Emerging Contaminant lab:

  • Agilent 1290 liquid chromatography with 6495C triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

  • Thermo iCAP TQ iMR TQ Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled to a HPLC system

  • Milli-Q EQ 7008 purification system (Ultrapure water)

  • Other laboratory equipment: pH and conductivity meters, RapidVap nitrogen evaporator, centrifuge, analytical balances, solid phase extraction system, grinder, freezers, refrigerators, shaking tables, vortex mixers, ultrasonic water baths, etc.

Available instrument in the shared departmental Core lab:

  • Exion 100 High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/AB Sciex API 3200 Mass Spectrometer

  • Waters Acquity Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography/Waters Q-TOF Mass Spectrometer

  • Agilent 6890 gas chromatograph (GC) coupled to a JEOL double-focusing mass spectrometer

  • Agilent 7900 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

  • Other laboratory equipment: Ultrasonic probe for tissue homogenates, -80 ºC freezers

Contact
Information

Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University

505 Science & Technology Building,

Greenville, NC 27858

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