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VACUUM DISTILLATION CONCENTRATOR (VDC) IN COMBINATION WITH GC/MS TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATRICES.
Impact/Purpose:
Beta test a vacuum distillation concentrator attached to a cryogenically equipped GC/MS to evaluate volatile and semi-volatile compound analysis performance in various matrices for the new SW846
Method 8261.
Description:
The U.S. EPA Region 5 Central Regional Laboratory, Region 6 and Region 10 are presently involved in a Superfund interlaboratory study with ORD/NERL-Las Vegas, NV evaluating U.S. EPA SW 846 Method 8261. This method utilizes a new commercially available vacuum distillation concentrator apparatus and software for generating data unique to method 8261. Method 8261 is used to determine the concentrations of volatile organic compounds, and some low boiling semivolatile organic compounds, in a variety of liquid, solid, and oily waste matrices as well as animal tissue. The method is applicable to nearly all types of matrices including water, soil, sediment, sludge, oil, and biological tissue. The initial findings related to the installation process, ease of use, ruggedness of the hardware and software, and the analysis of samples involving environmental matrices will be evaluated. Optimization procedures for the vacuum distiller and method 8261 calibration will be addressed. This unit once fully tested may be utilized for studying for volatile organo-mercury and organo-tin compounds in fish tissues. RCRA 8261 Interlab Study Design Approach Phases of Study Phase I: Equipment Installation and Training Phase II: Equipment Evaluation, Verification, and Optimization Phase III: Sample Matrix Evaluation Phase IV: Regional-Specific Matrix of Choice (optional) Phase V: Blind Study Phase VI: Develop Second Calibration Curve Phase VII: Operation and Data Review
