EPA-TSC/NERL: 556: Carbonyls by GC/ECD
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Official Method Name
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Determination of Carbonyl Compounds in Drinking Water by Pentafluorbenzylhydroxylamine Derivatization and Capillary Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection |
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Current Revision
| Revision 1.0, June 1998 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection |
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Method Subcategory
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Organic |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Brief Method Summary
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A 20-mL sample is adjusted to slight acid pH, and the compounds of interest are derivatized by reacting them with PFBHA reagent for 2 hours with heat. The oxime derivatives are extracted from the sample using hexane. The extract is processed through an acid wash step. The concentrations of oxime derivatives (converted from compounds of interest) are measured using a gas chromatography (GC) system equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). |
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Scope and Application
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This method determines certain carbonyl compounds in finished drinking water and raw source water. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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2-40 ug/L |
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Interferences
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(A) Reagent water contamination: To reduce aldehyde contamination, expose water to UV light or distill with permanganate. (B) Equipment contamination: Use non-Latex gloves, minimize exposure of reagent and sample to air (formaldehyde source), and use polypropylene (not phenolic resin) caps. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Initial demonstration of laboratory capability (which includes calculation of the MDL), analysis of laboratory reagent blanks, laboratory fortified blanks, field reagent blanks, laboratory fortified sample matrices, and QC samples. |
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Sample Handling
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Grab samples must be collected in accordance with conventional sampling practices using amber glass containers with PTFE-lined screw caps and capacities of at least 30 mL. Dechlorinate with 15 mg of ammonium chloride or ammonium sulfate. To inhibit bacteriological decay of analytes, add 15 mg of copper sulfate pentahydrate prior to sample collection. After collection, seal the bottle and agitate by hand for 1 minute. Samples must be iced or refrigerated at 4oC away from light until extraction. Extracts must be stored at 4oC or less away from light in glass vials with Teflon-lined caps. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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7 days; 14 days after extraction. |
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Relative Cost
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$201 to $400 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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