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ANALYSIS OF 1,4-DIOXANE AND OTHER WATER SOLUBLE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION AND GC/MS
Citation:
MUNCH, J. W. ANALYSIS OF 1,4-DIOXANE AND OTHER WATER SOLUBLE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION AND GC/MS. Presented at American Water Works Association Water Quality Technology Conference, Denver, CO, November 05 - 09, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this research effort is to develop analytical methods to be used to measure the occurence of priority water pollutants in the nation's drinking water supplies. To accomplish this objective, ORD scientists must first coordinate with staff from the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) to identify the most appropriate chemical contaminants for which analytical methods need to be developed, and then ORD must develop, and demonstrate the applicability of, new or improved analytical methods, that are specific, sensitive, and practical enough for application in commercial laboratories as part of the UCMR monitoring efforts.
Description:
1,4-Dioxane is emerging as a drinking water contaminant of concern. Because of its volatility and water solubility, 1,4-dioxane is difficult to extract and and concentrate from aqueous matrices. Because 1,4-dioxane is under consideration for the next drinking water Contaminant Candidate List, USEPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory is investigating new techniques for measuring it and other water soluble volatiles in drinking water. Solid phase extraction using coconut charcoal as the solid sorbent, and dichloromethane as the eluent, has shown promise for the extraction and concentration of 1,4-dioxane, as well as other water soluble volatile organic chemicals, from water matrices. Extracts were analyzed by GC/MS with large volume injection. Preliminary data for 1,4-dioxane demonstrate recovery from both reagent and tap water at 89.5 and 95.3%, respectively, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 6.3%. Preliminary data for four additional water soluble volatiles, 1,2-butylene oxide, 1,3-dioxolane, t-butanol, and epichlorohydrin, demonstrate 92.5-114% recovery with RSDs less than 5.1%.