Instrument: 7000 Headspace Autosampler
Rapid Screening of Volatile Organics by Headspace
Much time and money is lost in environmental laboratories bringing Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (PT-GC/MS) systems back in operation from a sample containing dangerously high levels of volatile organic contaminants. This is often a problem where water and soil samples originate from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) remediation. This EPA program requires testing of soil and water for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) as well as other gas range organic (GRO) compounds. These compounds are often markers of a fuel leak from underground storage tanks and need to be monitored. But often the levels are much higher than the normal operating range of Purge and Trap. EPA method 5021, a static headspace gas chromatography flame ionization (GC/FID) method is recommended for screening of volatile organic analytes prior to PT-GC/MS analysis because of its speed, simplicity and minimal carryover. This method can be used to quickly predetermine dilution levels or calibration ranges necessary for PT-GC/MS analysis, saving time and preventing costly damage to the volatiles system.
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