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IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE STORAGE OF GROUND WATER SAMPLES CONTAINING VOLATILE ORGANIC ANALYTES
Citation:
Kovacs, D. A. AND D H. Kampbell*. IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE STORAGE OF GROUND WATER SAMPLES CONTAINING VOLATILE ORGANIC ANALYTES. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY. Springer, New York, NY, 36(3):242-247, (1999).
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Description:
The sorption of volatile organic analytes from water samples by the Teflon septum surface used with standard glass 40-ml sample collection vials was investigated. Analytes tested included alkanes, isoalkanes, olefins, cycloalkanes, a cycloalkene, monoaromatics, a polynuclear aromatic, and two chloroethenes. Both laboratory prepared test mix solutions and petroleum contaminated groundwater from three field sites were tested. A rapid loss of n-alkane and isoalkane concentrations (>10%) was observed within 24 h when stored at room temperature. Aliphatic losses were also observed (>10%) over a 21-day holding period when samples were held at 4°C. Loss of the less sorptive analytes was demonstrated by exposing analyte solutions to greater Teflon surface areas. The demonstrated sorption of aliphatics from water samples by Teflon-lined septa indicates that the accuracy of volatile petroleum hydrocarbon determinations may be reduced by the traditional storage method. An alternative storage protocol is reported combining a lead foil septum surface and 1% (w/w) tribasic sodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na3PO4 · 12H2O) preservative. This method prevented loss of the test analytes, including alkanes and isoalkanes for at least 21 days at room temperature.
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IMPROVED METHOD FOR THE STORAGE OF GROUNDWATER SAMPLES CONTAINING VOLATILE ORGANIC ANALYTES