Photoacid generator formation for the selective enrichment of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and their direct analysis by MALDI-TOF-MSElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Some spectra results and the results obtained by the described method applied in real water samples. See DOI: 10.1039/c0an01037e

Triphenylsulfonium chloride (TPSC) was employed as a bifunctional agent for the selective enrichment of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates by triphenylsulfonium perfluorosulfonic acid (TPA, a photoacid generator) precipitation, and for the direct detection of perfluorosulfonic acid by MALDI-TOF-MS, using the triphensylsulfonium group of TPA as a matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]