USGS-NWQL: O-3113: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Total Recoverable Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNA) in Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Current Revision

1983

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet Detection

Method Subcategory

Organic

Method Source

USGS-NWQL

Citation

Methods for the Determination of Organic Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Book 5, Chapter A3 Edited by R.L. Wershaw, M.J. Fishman, R.R Grabbe, and L.E. Lowe

Brief Method Summary

PNA's are extracted from water or water-suspended-sediment mixtures with methylene chloride. The extract is concentrated and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis using a 10-mm reverse-phase column and a dual-channel ultraviolet detector.

Scope and Application

This method is suitable for the analysis of water and water-suspended-sediment mixtures for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNA's) containing at least 1 ug/L of the analyte.

Applicable Concentration Range

1 - 5ug/L

Interferences

Any compounds that exhibit chemical and/or physical properties similar to the compounds of interest.

Quality Control Requirements

Not Included

Sample Handling

Collect samples in glass bottles. Refrigerate samples at 4 degrees C immediately after collection.

Maximum Holding Time

Relative Cost

$201 to $400

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 14 analytes associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Spiking Level
Acenaphthene(83-32-9) 1,2-Dihydroacenaphthylene 1,8-Ethylenenaphthalene Acenaphthene Acenaphthene,1,2-dihydro- Acenaphthylene, 1,2-dihydro- Periethylenenaphthalene	1.000 ug/L	72% Rec (SL)	8.50 % RSD (SL)	2.80 ug/L
Anthracene(120-12-7) Anthracene Anthracin Green oil Paranaphthalene Tetra olive n2g	1.000 ug/L	73% Rec (SL)	3.90 % RSD (SL)	0.05 ug/L
Benz[a]anthracene(56-55-3) 1,2-Benzanthracene 2,3-Benzphenanthrene Benz[a]anthracene Benzanthrene Benzo(a)anthracene Benzoanthracene Naphthanthracene Tetraphene	1.000 ug/L	91% Rec (SL)	3.00 % RSD (SL)	0.43 ug/L
Benzo(a)pyrene(50-32-8) 3,4-Benzopyrene 3,4-Benzpyrene BP BaP Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo[a]pyrene	1.000 ug/L	87% Rec (SL)	4.80 % RSD (SL)	0.15 ug/L
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene(191-24-2) 1,12-Benzoperylene 1,12-Benzperylene B(ghi)P Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(ghi)perylene	1.000 ug/L	88% Rec (SL)	3.00 % RSD (SL)	1.60 ug/L
Chrysene(218-01-9) 1,2,5,6-Dibenzonaphthalene 1,2-Benzophenanthrene 1,2-Benzphenanthrene Benz(a)phenanthrene Benzo(a)phenanthrene Chrysene	1.000 ug/L	89% Rec (SL)	5.10 % RSD (SL)	0.64 ug/L
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene(53-70-3) 1,2:5,6-Dibenzanthracene DB(a,h)A Dibenz(a,h)anthracene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene	1.000 ug/L	92% Rec (SL)	6.90 % RSD (SL)	0.13 ug/L
Fluoranthene(206-44-0) 1,2-Benzacenaphthene Benzo(j,k)fluorene Fluoranthene Idryl	1.000 ug/L	79% Rec (SL)	3.50 % RSD (SL)	1.40 ug/L
Fluorene(86-73-7) 2,2'-Methylenebiphenyl 9H-Fluorene Diphenylenemethane Fluorene o-Biphenylenemethane	1.000 ug/L	73% Rec (SL)	12.00 % RSD (SL)	0.64 ug/L
Naphthalene(91-20-3) Moth balls Naphthalene Naphthalin Naphthene Tar camphor White tar	1.000 ug/L	72% Rec (SL)	6.90 % RSD (SL)	1.30 ug/L
Organics, semivolatile(E-12884) Organics, semivolatile Semi-volatile organics Semivolatile organics	N/A	N/A	N/A
Phenanthrene(85-01-8) Phenanthrene Phenathrin	1.000 ug/L	71% Rec (SL)	8.30 % RSD (SL)	0.21 ug/L
Pyrene(129-00-0) Benzo[def]phenanthrene Pyrene Pyrene[def]phenanthrene	1.000 ug/L	88% Rec (SL)	2.80 % RSD (SL)	0.32 ug/L
Volatile organic compounds(E-12419) Organic compounds, volatile VOCs Volatile organic compounds	N/A	N/A	N/A

Precision Descriptor Notes:	Precision and recovery statements determined by analyzing seven replicates of water-suspended-sediment mixture samples spiked with the analytes of interest.
Detection Level Note:	DL taken from "Scope" statement.

Revision	PDF/Link
1983

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USGS-NWQL: O-3113: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

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