EPA: 3546: This is an extraction procedure for semivolatile organic compounds, organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, chlorinated herbicides, phenoxyacid herbicides, substituted phenols, PCBs, and PCDDs/PCDFs from soils, clays, sediments, sludges, and solid wastes using microwave.

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

SW-846 Test Method 3546: Microwave Extraction

Current Revision

EPA 3546

Media

SOILS/SEDIMENT

Instrumentation

Microwave energy (300 GHz – 300 MHz)

Method Subcategory

Organic

Method Source

EPA

Citation

SW-846 Online: Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods

Brief Method Summary

Microwave energy is used to produce elevated temperature and pressure conditions (i.e., 100 - 115 EC and 50 - 175 psi) in a closed vessel containing the sample and organic solvent(s)(for example, hexane:acetone::1:1) to achieve analyte recoveries equivalent to those from Soxhlet extraction (Method 3540), using less solvent and taking significantly less time than the Soxhlet procedure.

Scope and Application

This method is a procedure for extracting water-insoluble or slightly water soluble organic compounds from soils, clays, sediments, sludges, and solid wastes.

Applicable Concentration Range

Total range, specified analyte groups: 1 - 10,000 ug/kg (SVOCs, OP/OC pesticides, herbicides, substituted phenols, PCBs); 10 - 6,000 ng/kg (PCDDs/PCDFs)

Interferences

(A) Contamination from solvents, reagents, glassware, and other sample processing hardware: Analyze method blanks, select appropriate reagents, purify solvents by distillation in all-glass systems may be necessary. (B) Interferences: Refer to Method 3500 for information regarding interferences. (C) Interferences: Florisil and/or sulfur cleanup procedures if necessary (Method 3620 and/or Method 3660). (D) Interferences for PCDD/PCDF: Various cleanup procedures (Methods 8280 and 8290).

Quality Control Requirements

Method blank, replicates, spikes, surrogates. See specific analytical methods for more information.

Sample Handling

N/A

Maximum Holding Time

N/A

Relative Cost

Sample Preparation Methods

Air-dry or mix with drying agent and grind to a fine powder. Determine percent dry weight.

This method has 0 analytes associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level

Precision Descriptor Notes:
Detection Level Note:

Revision	PDF/Link
EPA 3546

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EPA: 3546: This is an extraction procedure for semivolatile organic compounds, organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, chlorinated herbicides, phenoxyacid herbicides, substituted phenols, PCBs, and PCDDs/PCDFs from soils, clays, sediments, sludges, and solid wastes using microwave.

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