EPA-NERL: 550.1: PAHs in Water Using HPLC/UV/FL
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Official Method Name
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Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Drinking Water by Liquid-Solid Extraction and HPLC with Coupled Ultraviolet and Fluorescence Detection |
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Current Revision
| July 1990 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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HPLC with dual detector-fluoresence and UV |
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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 1-L water sample is passed through a liquid/solid extraction (LSE) cartridge that contains 1 g of a solid inorganic matrix coated with a chemically bonded C-18 organic phase. The use of disks impregnated with the same material is also acceptable. PAHs are eluted from the cartridge or disk with a small quantity of methylene chloride, dried, and concentrated further to 1-mL. A 3-mL portion of acetonitrile is added to the extract and concentrated to a final volume of 0.5 mL. The concentrations of PAHs in the extract are measured using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with ultraviolet absorption (UV) and fluorescence detectors. |
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Scope and Application
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This method determines certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in drinking water sources and finished drinking water. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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Ranges differ for each analyte depending on matrix and interferences. |
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Interferences
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(A) Glassware contamination: Thoroughly clean glassware, including baking or solvent rinse. (B) Solvent contamination: Use high purity solvents. (C) Extracted interferences: Interference from extracted non-target compounds, with retention times similar to target compounds, can be reduced by sample cleanup. However, matrix interferences have been observed for benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Initial demonstration of laboratory capability, analysis of laboratory reagent blanks (LRBs), laboratory fortified blanks (LFBs), laboratory fortified matrix samples, and QC samples. Additional QC practices are recommended. A MDL for each analyte must also be determined. |
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Sample Handling
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Grab samples must be collected in glass, amber bottles (or foil-wrapped bottles) and amber vials to protect PAH in samples and extracts from photolytic decomposition, using conventional sampling practices; however, the bottle must not be prerinsed with sample before collection. Composite samples should be collected in refrigerated glass containers. Automatic sampling equipment must be as free as possible of Tygon tubing and other potential sources of contamination. Dechlorinate with 100 mg of sodium thoisulfate per liter of sample and mix well if residual chlorine is present. Adjust the pH of the sample to less than 2 with 6N HCl. Store samples at 4oC away from light until analysis. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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7 days; extraction within 40 days. |
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Relative Cost
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$201 to $400 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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