Advances in Instrumental Analysis of Brominated Flame Retardants: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Abstract

This review aims to highlight the recent advances and methodological improvements in instrumental techniques applied for the analysis of different brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The literature search strategy was based on the recent analytical reviews published on BFRs. The main selection criteria involved the successful development and application of analytical methods for determination of the target compounds in various environmental matrices. Different factors affecting chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection of brominated analytes were evaluated and discussed. Techniques using advanced instrumentation to achieve outstanding results in quantification of different BFRs and their metabolites/degradation products were highlighted. Finally, research gaps in the field of BFR analysis were identified and recommendations for future research were proposed.

Figure 1

3D-stacked GC-ECNI/MS chromatograms of 0.5 ng/μL standard mixtures of various PBDEs and NBFRs.

Figure 2

LC-ESI-MS/MS chromatogram of 0.5 ng/μL standard mixtures of BPA, mono-BBPA, di-BBPA, tri-BBPA, TBBPA, and α-, β-, and γ-HBCDs.

Figure 3

LC-MS/MS chromatograms showing chiral separation of 50 pg/μL α-, β-, γ-HBCDs using (a) Nucleodex β-PM chiral LC column and (b) Pursuit XRS3 C18 column followed by Nucleodex β-PM chiral LC column.