2
Introduction
Optimizing theAnalysis ofVolatileOrganicCompounds
One of our standing goals is to provide youwith practical technical information to help you
obtain reliable data from your chromatographic and peripheral systems. This guide presents
information on the commonUSEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) gas chromatogra-
phy (GC)methods and procedures used to analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is
a compilation of information based on our experience and that of experts in this field.Much
of this guide is dedicated to discussing purge and trap techniques, and showing applications
using a variety of configurations and conditions.
Wewould like to thank the following people for their technical contributions to this guide:
JessieCrocket Butler,Applications Chemist
Thermo Finnigan, GC&GC/MSDivision
2215GrandAvenue Pkwy
Austin, Texas 78728
LauraChambers,Applications Chemist
OI Corporation
151GrahamRoad
College Station, Texas 77845
Jeff Grindstaff, GC/MSManager
ColumbiaAnalytical
1317 South 13thAvenue
Kelso,Washington 98626
AlanHilling, Lab Supervisor
PaceAnalytical Services Inc.
9800KinceyAvenue, Suite 100
Huntersville, NorthCarolina 28078
Darrell Robbins, GC/MSVolatiles Chemist
SevernTrent Laboratories
55 South ParkDrive
Colchester,Vermont 05446
Glynda Smith,Applications Chemist
Tekmar-Dohrmann
4736 Socialville-Foster Road
Mason, Ohio 45040
AlexTam, GC/MSVolatiles Chemist
SevernTrent Laboratories
1220QuarryLane
Pleasanton, California 94566
We hope you enjoy reading this guide and find it useful in your work. If you have any ques-
tions, or have input for future editions, please don’t hesitate to contact RestekCorporation -
we’ll be happy to hear from you.
Christopher English
Environmental Innovations Specialist
Table of Contents
EPAMethodDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
DrinkingWaterMethods (500Series) . . . . . . . . .3
WastewaterMethods (600Series) . . . . . . . . . . . .3
HazardousWasteMethods (8000Series) . . . . . . .4
State GROMethods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) . . . . . . . . . . . .5
The Love Canal Scandal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Purge and Trap Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Concentration of Volatile Organics . . . . . . . . . . .7
Sequences and FlowPaths of
the Purge and TrapUnit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Purge and TrapComponents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Purge Vessel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Valves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Adsorbent Materials and Traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Adsorbent Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Choosing the Right Trap for Your Analysis . . . . .12
Moisture Control Systems-
Water andMethanol Management . . . . . . . . . . .13
Transfer Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
TroubleshootingCommon Problems
Associatedwith Purge and TrapUnits . . . . . . . . .15
GCSystemConfigurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Wide-bore Systems
(0.45mm ID and 0.53mm ID columns) . . . . . . . .18
Narrow-bore Systems
(0.18mm ID - 0.32mm ID columns) . . . . . . . . . .21
Capillary Column Phases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Metal Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
ColumnConfigurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Detector Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
PIDOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
FIDOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
ELCDOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
GC/MSOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Applications UsingGCDetection Systems . . . . . .37
Applications UsingGC/MSDetection Systems . . .50
Tables of Retention Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Product Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
