Air Analysis: Volatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) in One Analysis by Automated Thermal Desorption (ATD) Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)

There is an increasing need to measure VOCs and SVOCs in air samples for these pollutants have a serious impact to human health. In the past, this was performed by two analyses. Now it is performed by one using EPA Method TO-17 optimizing productivity and profits while providing an environmentally friendly analysis. To perform both VOCs and SVOCs in one analysis, a new sorbent tube recipe was developed. The extended range XRO-440 thermal desorption tube was designed to accommodate the retention and the release of target compounds in the boiling point range from nC4 to nC44 which includes the air toxic list from 1,3-butadiene through benzo(g,h,i)perylene including all 16 regulated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This will eliminate the need to use a very expensive, labor intensive method such as EPA method TO-13 and provides advantages and lower detection limits than EPA method TO-15. It is advantageous to perform this test in one analysis instead of two. Only one sample will need to be collected reducing sampling costs. Using one method, EPA Method TO-17, this enhances laboratory productivity, profitability, and safety. In addition, significantly less solvent and electricity is used, making it a “greener” analysis. The PerkinElmer thermal desorber has the temperature capabilities to recovery these components 99.9% without discrimination. Another tube that will be presented extends the boiling point range for soil gas samples which TO-15 or summa canisters cannot recover in the range from nC3 to nC26. Independent site studies will be presented to demonstrate both field and analytical soundness of this combined method, and the analytical method used. From these site studies, PAHs as high as benzo(g,h,i)perylene were reported Results from several site studies will be reviewed comparing several techniques further validating the one analysis approach.