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Portable Sensor for Detecting Trifluoroacetic Acid in Bottled Water: A Visualization Method Based on Multiple
Haocheng Yang1, Siyu Huang1, Jinhong Luo1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Technology, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Analytical Chemistry
|December 15, 2025
Summary
A new rapid visual test detects trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), an emerging pollutant in water. This cost-effective method offers quick, user-friendly monitoring for drinking water safety.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants with increasing concentrations in water bodies.
- Ultrashort-chain trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) poses a significant challenge due to its high solubility and resistance to conventional water treatment methods.
- Ensuring the safety of drinking water requires effective monitoring strategies for emerging contaminants like TFA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, rapid, and visual detection method for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water.
- To address the limitations of current water treatment and detection techniques for ultrashort-chain TFA.
- To provide a convenient tool for early warning and monitoring of TFA in drinking water sources.
Main Methods:
- Utilized surface-modified gold nanoparticles with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (Au-MUA) as a probe.
- Exploited synergistic effects induced by TFA on Au-MUA nanoparticles, leading to visible aggregation.
- Validated the method for TFA determination in commercially available bottled water samples.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid visual detection of TFA within 30 seconds.
- Demonstrated a low limit of detection ranging from 2.51-114.02 ng/mL.
- Confirmed the method's stability for at least 30 days and its suitability for real-world water samples.
Conclusions:
- The developed rapid test offers a user-friendly, low-cost, and effective approach for TFA detection.
- This strategy provides a timely early warning system for monitoring TFA in bottled water and other water resources.
- The method contributes to actively protecting public health by enabling prompt identification of TFA contamination.
