Detection of low-level PTFE contamination: An application of solid-state NMR to structure elucidation in the pharmaceutical industry

We report a novel use of solid-state 19F nuclear magnetic resonance to detect and quantify polytetrafluoroethylene contamination from laboratory equipment, which due to low quantity (up to 1% w/w) and insolubility remained undetected by standard analytical techniques. Solid-state 19F NMR is shown to be highly sensitive to such fluoropolymers (detection limit 0.02% w/w), and is demonstrated as a useful analytical tool for structure elucidation of unknown solid materials.