EPA method Articles

A Guide to BFB Tuning for VOC Analysis

All US EPA methods for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) require that specific GCMS tuning criteria be met before running a calibration curve or analyzing actual samples. The GCMS is tuned using the traditional tuning compound, PFTBA (perfluorotributylamine), and the tune is evaluated every 12 hours by injecting BFB (4-bromofluorobenzene) and measuring the relative intensity of key mass ...

Dec. 1, 2014

Comparing US EPA and FDA Methods for 1,4-Dioxane in Consumer Products

Abstract 1,4-Dioxane routinely makes headlines when found in water or consumer products. A potential byproduct of the sulfation process, 1,4-dioxane is generated in the manufacture of alcohol ether sulfates and may be created in the ethoxylation process using ethylene oxide. Current methodology, including US EPA methods are normally performed on water matrices. The FDA has methods for consumer ...

Jul. 16, 2012

Analysis of US EPA Method 8270D Semivolatiles Using SLB-5ms

Application Report 391 US EPA Method 8270D specifies a procedure for the determination of semivolatiles in solid wastes and ground waters. The suitability of the SLB-5ms for the separation of 72 analytes (plus eight surrogates and six internal standards) specified in the method is demonstrated. The optimized chromatogram obtained on the SLB-5ms is presented. ...

Nov. 5, 2012

US EPA Method 608, 8081, OLM04.2 Organochlorine Pesticides on the 20 m x 0.18 mm I.D., 0.36 µm SLB-5ms

This is the analysis of a 22-component standard containing 20 pesticides and 2 surrogate compounds commonly analyzed by US EPA Method 8081, using the 20 m x 0.18 mm I.D., 0.36 µm SLB-5ms column. The greater efficiency of a 0.18 mm I.D. versus wider bore columns, allowed resolution of all 22 compounds in less than 20 minutes. The stability of the SLB-5ms at high temperature enabled the run ...

Dec. 31, 2006

A Guide to the Novel Shimadzu GC-MS BFB Tuning for the Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Environmental Samples

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes strict BFB tuning criteria to ensure the quality of the results when analyzing volatile compounds. Due to many challenges inherent to GC-MS Purge and Trap instruments required for this analysis, several GC-MS instruments have difficulties in passing the required US EPA BFB tuning criteria or remaining stable over prolonged operations period. ...

May 28, 2020

By Pickering Laboratories, Inc.

Bromate analysis analysis of bromate in drinking water by hplc and post-column derivatization

Bromate is a disinfection by-product that is formed when Ozone reacts with naturally occurring Bromide in drinking water. Bromate is a known animal carcinogen and has also been listed as a group 2B toxin: probable human carcinogen. The U.S. EPA Method 300.1 employs conductivity as the means of detection which works well for most anions. However, the method is nonspecific and coeluting ...

Jun. 10, 2010

US EPA Method 8081 Chlorinated Pesticides on Equity-1701

US EPA method 8081 describes the GC/ECD analysis of organochlorine pesticides and requires the use of a primary and confirmation column. In this application, 20 compounds listed in method 8081, plus two surrogates, were analyzed on the Equity-1701 column. These same run conditions will separate all 22 compounds on an Equity-5 column of similar dimensions. The elution order is different between ...

Dec. 30, 2003

Analysis of PFAS Specified in EPA Method 537 and Beyond using Shimadzu UFMS

This application note demonstrates the use, performance, and compatibility of Shimadzu ultra-fast mass spectrometry for EPA Method 537 with an expanded compound panel of seven additional PFAS. A total of 27 PFAS were extracted, separated and detected with triple quadrupole mass spectrometers, LCMS-8045 and LCMS-8050. Recoveries of 86-106% (LCMS-8050) and 77-104% (LCMS-8045) were well within the ...

Apr. 1, 2019

Product Redesign of Chemical Standards Improves Atrazine and Simazine Stability - Verified by GC

Supelco routinely monitors its chemical standard products to determine shelf-life quality. Atrazine and simazine, two triazine herbicides included in US EPA Methods 505 and 525, are unstable in methanol. This application note describes the Supelco reformulation of four chemical standards containing these analytes, each originally prepared in methanol. Accelerated stability studies demonstrated ...

Dec. 31, 1994

GC-MS Analysis of Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) consist of 210 different compounds with varying degrees of toxicity, and the 17 congeners with chlorine substitution in the 2,3,7,8 positions are considered the most toxic. This chromatogram illustrates the separation of a 17 component 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD and PCDF standard on a 30 m x 0.25 mm I.D. x 0.25 μm ...

Jun. 5, 2012

US EPA Method 8270 Semivolatiles on the Equity-5

US EPA Method 8270 describes the analysis of a wide variety of semivolatile compounds by GC/MS. In this application, the Equity-5 was used to analyze 74 compounds commonly targeted for analysis by environmental laboratories. The analysis also included 6 internal standards and 8 surrogates. The Equity column showed excellent peak shape and response for both basic and acidic compounds, including ...

Jan. 17, 2012

Analysis of US EPA Method 8270D Semivolatiles Using a 30 m x 0.25 mm I.D., 0.50 μm SLB-5ms

Application Note 401: US EPA Method 8270D specifies a procedure for the determination of semivolatiles in solid waste and ground water samples. The long list of analytes includes compounds of a variety of functionalities. A 0.25 μm df column is commonly used for this method, as it will allow for a short analysis time. However, the thin phase film of this dimension limits its sample capacity. ...

Nov. 5, 2012

Determination of PBDEs in Sediment Samples using the SpeedExtractor E-914

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants used in a myriad of applications and are monitored worldwide because of health concerns. In this application, PBDE congeners were extracted from two sediment samples (certified sample and sediment core from Lake Maggiore) according to EPA method 3545A using the SpeedExtractor E-914 and determined by GC-MS/GC-ECD. The results were ...

Nov. 25, 2011

By BÜCHI Labortechnik AG

Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) by Headspace/GC/FID

Abstract Recent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Barrier Reef have renewed interest in the rapid analysis of crude oil byproducts in aqueous and solid samples including sand and commercial fishing products. One of the crude oil constituents, gasoline range organics (GRO) is currently determined by either EPA Method 8015C1 or Wisconsin’s modified GRO2. A Teledyne Tekmar HT3 ...

Jul. 20, 2010

Detection Limits of EPA Method 8260 with Static and Dynamic Headspace GC-MS Analysis

Abstract EPA Method 8260 provides for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in various solid waste matrices. The referenced EPA Method 5021, allows for the introduction of VOCs from solid samples by automated static headspace. The static headspace method permits the prescreening of samples to minimize over saturation of the chromatography system. The Teledyne Tekmar HT3 static and ...

Jan. 1, 2009

US EPA Method 525.2 Semivolatiles by GC-MS on the Supelco SLB™-5ms

US EPA Method 525.2 describes the procedure for the extraction and analysis of semivolatile organic compounds from drinking and source water. The compound list includes polynuclear aromatics, phthalates, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls. This application illustrates the separation of a majority of the single peak analytes listed in this method, using a SLB-5ms, 30 m x 0.25 mm I.D., 0.25 ...

Dec. 31, 2008

US EPA Method 515 Chlorinated Acids on Equity-1701

The potential health effects associated with many chlorinated acid herbicides has led to regulations regarding their use. US EPA method 515 describes the GC/ECD analysis of these compounds as their methyl ester derivatives in ground and drinking water, and lists a 1701-type capillary for use as a secondary column. In this application, 15 out of the 16 herbicides listed in method 515 were resolved ...

Jan. 17, 2012

Analysis of US EPA Method 632 Carbamate and Urea Pesticides Using Ascentis™ C18

US EPA Method 632 specifies a procedure for the determination of carbamate and urea pesticides in municipal and industrial wastewaters. The suitability of the Ascentis C18 for the separation of the nineteen analytes specified in the method is demonstrated. An Ascentis C18, 25 cm x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm particles was used to acheive separation of all compounds, under gradient conditions. All ...

Dec. 31, 2005

Validation of EPA Method 8260C on a Thermo Scientific TRACE 1300 Series GC with New Helium Saver Inlet

Abstract As helium continues to become more expensive, many labs are searching for more cost effective carrier gas options. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the Atomx automated sample prep system's nitrogen purge feature in conjunction with Thermo Scientific's TRACE 1300 series Helium Saver inlet at producing quality data while also reducing helium consumption. Calibration and method ...

Sep. 12, 2014