NEMI Method Summary

Method Summary Information

Method Number: 8260B Media: VARIOUS
Revision: Rev. 2, 1996
Method Source: U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste
Subcategory: ORGANIC Analytes in this method
Official Name: Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Descriptive Name Volatile Organic Compounds by Capillary GC/MS
Source Info: U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste (OSW) Methods Team
Ariel Rios Bldg. (5307W)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 703-308-8855
Fax: 703-308-0511
Citation: SW-846 On-line
454421 Byte file
Brief Method
Summary:
 Volatile compounds are introduced into a GC with a capillary column by a purge-and-trap method or by other methods including azeotropic distillation, vacuum distillation, head space, direct injection, etc. Identification of analytes is made by comparing three ions from their background-corrected mass spectra with spectra of authentic standards which elute at correct retention times. Multiple internal standards are used for relative GC retention time comparisons. Quantification is accomplished by comparing the response of a major ion relative to an internal standard using a five-point calibration curve.
Scope And
Application:
 This method determines most volatile organic compounds with boiling points below 200 C.
Applicable
Conc Range:
 Variable as needed.
Interferences: (A) Contamination by diffusion of volatile organic compounds may occur through the septum seal of the sample container while in the laboratory or during shipment and/or storage. Special precautions must be taken when analyzing for methylene chloride, a common laboratory solvent.(A) Major contaminant sources are volatile materials in the laboratory and impurities in the inert purging gas and in the sorbent trap. The use of non-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thread sealants, plastic tubing, or flow controllers with rubber components should be avoided, since such materials out-gas organic compounds which will be concentrated in the trap during the purge operation. Analyses of calibration and reagent blanks provide information about the presence of contaminants. When potential interfering peaks are noted in blanks, the analyst should change the purge gas source and regenerate the molecular sieve purge gas filter. Subtracting blank values from sample results is not permitted. If reporting values without correcting for the blank results in what the laboratory feels is a false positive result for a sample, the laboratory should fully explained this in text accompanying the uncorrected data.
QC Requirements: QC procedures include evaluation of retention time windows, calibration verification, acceptable chromatographic analysis of samples, GC/MS tuning to meet specifications including acceptable 4-bromofluorobenzene (BFB) every 12-hour shift, initial demonstration of proficiency by the laboratory, and analysis of appropriate QC samples (including method blanks, matrix spikes, duplicates, and laboratory control samples (LCS) in each analytical batch plus the addition of surrogates to each field sample and QC sample.
Sample Handling: Collect grab samples in 40 mL glass containers with Teflon-lined silicone septa. If residual chlorine is present collect the sample in a 125 mL container which has been pre-preserved with sodium thiosulfate solution, swirl gently and then transfer to a 40 mL VOA vial. Cool to 4 degrees C from time of collection until analysis.
Max Holding Time:
 14 days (after collection)
Sample Prep Met 5030, 5035, 5031, 5032, 5021, 5041
Relative Cost: $201 to $400
7041
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