EPA Method Guidance CD-ROM (includes MCAWW Methods, and most current EPA Methods)
Citation Information:
EPA Methods and Guidance for Analysis of Water, Version 2.0. This CD-ROM was developed by the USEPA (EPA) Office of Water (OW) to increase public access to EPA wastewater and drinking water test methods. This CD-ROM includes all EPA wastewater test methods approved at 40 CFR 136, all EPA drinking water test methods approved at 40 CFR 141, and various EPA guidance documents related to EPA's wastewater and drinking water programs. New and revised EPA OW methods and guidance documents will be added to the CD-ROM during periodic updates. The software includes a robust text search engine to allow searches by method number, analyte name, and key words. All methods, guidance documents, and graphics have been converted to Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) to facilitate efficient text searches. Available through: NTIS Item #PB99-500209GEI, (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 or order from the Web at: http://www.ntis.gov/product/environmental-test-methods.htm
Brief Method Summary
A sample is purged with an inert gas transforming the purgeable organics to the vapor phase where it is collected on an absorbent trap at ambient temperature. After the sample is purged, the trap is then heated, backflushed, and desorbed with the inert gas onto an chromatographic column. The gas chromatograph is temperature programmed to separate the purgeable organics, which are then detected by a mass spectrometer (MS).
Scope and Application
This is a GC/MS method that determines the quantity of purgeable organics. This method can also be extended to screen for acrolein (CAS No. 107-02-8) and acrylonitrile (CAS No. 107-13-1), however the preferred method for these two compounds is Method 603.
Applicable Concentration Range
Varies based on analyte and conditions (ug/L).
Interferences
(A) Impurities in gas and plumbing: Impurities in the inert gas and organic plumbing system of the purge and trap concentrator tend to be the main cause of interference in the analytical system. The use of non-Teflon tubing and fittings should be avoided. (B) Contamination during collection: Samples can become contaminated by diffusion of volatile organic compounds (especially methylene chloride and fluorocarbons) across the septum seal during collection and storage. Use Field Blanks to verify possible contamination. (C) Carryover: Contamination by carry-over in the analytical system can occur, especially in sample that are extremely concentrated. Frequent bakeout and cleaning of the purging system can help prevent carry-over.
Quality Control Requirements
Initial demonstration of laboratory capability and the periodic analysis of laboratory reagent blanks, fortified blanks, and other laboratory solutions as a continuing check on performance.
Sample Handling
Sample should be placed in a 25mL glass vial or larger, screw cap with a hole in the center for a Teflon-faced silicone septum. The sample should not have a headspace and should be kept refrigerated until analysis. If the sample is believed to contain free or combined chlorine, add 10mg/40mL of sodium thiosulfate upon collection and shake vigorously for one minute.
Maximum Holding Time
14 days.
Relative Cost
$201 to $400
Sample Preparation Methods
None.
This method has 36 analytes associated with it.
Analyte
Detection Level
Bias
Precision
Pct False Positive
Pct False Negative
Spiking Level
1,1,1-Trichloroethane(71-55-6)
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
Baltana
Chlorothene
Ethane, 1,1,1-trichloro-
Methyl chloroform
TCEA
3.800 ug/L
113% Rec (ML)
18.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane(79-34-5)
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
Acetylenetetrachloride
Bonoform
Cellon
Ethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-
sym-Tetrachloroethane
6.900 ug/L
111% Rec (ML)
24.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,1,2-Trichloroethane(79-00-5)
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Ethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-
Vinyltrichloride
5.000 ug/L
112% Rec (ML)
18.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,1-Dichloroethane(75-34-3)
1,1-Dichloroethane
Ethane, 1,1-dichloro-
Ethylidene Chloride
Ethylidene dichloride
4.700 ug/L
109% Rec (ML)
20.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,1-Dichloroethene(75-35-4)
1,1-Dichloroethene
1,1-Dichloroethylene
Ethene, 1,1-dichloro-
Ethylene, 1,1-dichloro-, inhibited
Vinylidene chloride
Vinylidenechloride
Vinylidine chloride
asym-Dichloroethylene
2.800 ug/L
118% Rec (ML)
41.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,2-Dichlorobenzene(95-50-1)
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
Benzene, 1,2-dichloro-
Dilantin db
Dowtherm e
o-Dichlorobenzene
ortho-Dichlorobenzene
N/A
139% Rec (ML)
21.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,2-Dichloroethane(107-06-2)
1,2-Dichloroethane
EDC
Ethane, 1,2-dichloro-
Ethylene Dichlorinde
Ethylene dichloride
Glycol dichloride
2.800 ug/L
107% Rec (ML)
17.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,2-Dichloropropane(78-87-5)
1,2-Dichloropropane
Dichloropropane,alpha,beta-
Nemex
Propane, 1,2-dichloro-
Propylene chloride
Propylene dichloride
6.000 ug/L
100% Rec (ML)
45.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,3-Dichlorobenzene(541-73-1)
1,3-Dichlorobenzene
Benzene, 1,3-dichloro-
Benzene, m-dichloro-
m-Dichlorobenzene
N/A
123% Rec (ML)
11.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
1,4-Dichlorobenzene(106-46-7)
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Benzene, 1,4-dichloro-
Chlorinated benzenes, mono- and di-
Di-chloricide
PDB
Paramoth
p-Dichlorobenzene
para-dichlorobenzene
N/A
139% Rec (ML)
21.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
2-Chloroethylvinyl ether(110-75-8)
(2-chloroethoxy)-Ethene
2-Chloroethoxyethene
2-Chloroethylvinyl ether
Ethene, (2-chloroethoxy)-
beta-Chloroethyl vinyl ether
N/A
100% Rec (ML)
84.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Acrolein(107-02-8)
2-Propen-1-one
2-Propenal
Acraldehyde
Acrolein
Acrolein (Propenal)
Acrylaldehyde
Acrylic aldehyde
Allyl aldehyde
Aqualin
Magnacide H
Prop-2-en-1-al
N/A
N/A
N/A
Acrylonitrile(107-13-1)
2-Propenenitrile
Acrylofume
Acrylonitrile
Carbacryl
Cyanoethylene
Fumigrain
VCN
Ventox
Vinyl cyanide
N/A
N/A
N/A
Benzene(71-43-2)
Benzene
Benzol
Coal naptha
Cyclohexatriene
Phene
Pyrobenzol
4.400 ug/L
113% Rec (ML)
13.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Bromodichloromethane(75-27-4)
Bromodichloromethane
Dichlorobromomethane
Dichloromonobromomethane
Methane, bromodichloro-
Monobromodichloromethane
2.200 ug/L
87% Rec (ML)
33.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Bromoform(75-25-2)
Bromoform
Methane, tribromo-
Methenyl tribromide
Tribromomethane
4.700 ug/L
95% Rec (ML)
32.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Bromomethane(74-83-9)
Bromomethane
Methane, bromo
Methyl bromide
Monobromomethane
N/A
100% Rec (ML)
58.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Carbon tetrachloride(56-23-5)
Benzinoform
Carbon tetrachloride
Methane tetrachloride
Methane, tetrachloro-
Perchloromethane
Tetrachloromethane
2.800 ug/L
93% Rec (ML)
15.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Chlorobenzene(108-90-7)
Benzene chloride
Benzene, chloro-
Chlorobenzene
MCB
Monochlorobenzene
Phenyl chloride
6.000 ug/L
121
10.00
10.00 ug/L
Chloroethane(75-00-3)
Chlorethyl
Chloridum
Chloroethane
Chloryl
Ethane, chloro
Ethyl chloride
Hydrochloric ether
Monochloroethane
Muriatic ether
N/A
126% Rec (ML)
43.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Chloroform(67-66-3)
Chloroform
Methane, trichloro-
Trichloroform
Trichloromethane
1.600 ug/L
96% Rec (ML)
20.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Chloromethane(74-87-3)
Chloromethane
Methane, chloro
Methyl chloride
Monochloromethane
N/A
111% Rec (ML)
62.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Dibromochloromethane(124-48-1)
Chlorodibromomethane
Dibromochloromethane
Methane, dibromochloro-
3.100 ug/L
101% Rec (ML)
22.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Ethylbenzene(100-41-4)
Benzene, ethyl
Ethyl benzene
Ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzol
Phenylethane
7.200 ug/L
123% Rec (ML)
12.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Herbicides(E-12839)
Herbicide formulations
Herbicides
N/A
N/A
N/A
Methylene chloride(75-09-2)
Dichloromethane
Methane dichloride
Methane, dichloro-
Methylene bichloride
Methylene chloride
Methylene dichloride
2.800 ug/L
106% Rec (ML)
70.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Organics, semivolatile(E-12884)
Organics, semivolatile
Semi-volatile organics
Semivolatile organics
N/A
N/A
N/A
Tetrachloroethene(127-18-4)
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethene
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethylene
Ethene, tetrachloro-
Ethylenetetrachloride
Perchloroethylene
Perclene
Tetrachloroethene
Tetrachloroethylene
4.100 ug/L
112% Rec (ML)
12.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Toluene(108-88-3)
Benzene, methyl
Methacide
Methylbenzene
Methylbenzol
Phenylmethane
Toluene
Toluol
6.000 ug/L
118
8.00
10.00 ug/L
Trichloroethene(79-01-6)
1,1,2-Trichloroethene
1,1,2-Trichloroethylene
Ethene, trichloro
Ethinyl trichloride
Ethylene trichloride
Ethylene, trichloro-
TCE
Tri-clene
Trichloroethene
Trichloroethylene
1.900 ug/L
127% Rec (ML)
17.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Trichlorofluoromethane(75-69-4)
CFC 11
CFC-11
Fluorotrichloromethane
Freon 11
Methane, trichlorofluoro-
Trichlorofluoromethane
Trichloromonofluoromethane
N/A
103% Rec (ML)
30.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Vinyl chloride(75-01-4)
Chloroethene
Ethene, chloro
Ethene, chloro-
Monochloroethylene
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride (monomer)
N/A
100% Rec (ML)
65.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Volatile organic compounds(E-12419)
Organic compounds, volatile
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
N/A
N/A
N/A
cis-1,3-Dichloropropene(10061-01-5)
1,3-Dichloropropene, (z)
1,3-cis-Dichloro-1-propene
1,3-cis-Dichloropropene
1,3-cis-Dichloropropylene
1-Propene, 1,3-dichloro-, (Z)-
Telone II
cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
5.000 ug/L
100% Rec (ML)
52.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene(156-60-5)
1,2-trans-Dichloroethene
1,2-trans-Dichloroethylene
Acetylenedichloride, trans-
Ethene, 1,2-dichloro-, (E)-
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
trans-Acetylene dichloride
1.600 ug/L
105% Rec (ML)
21.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
trans-1,3-Dichloropropene(10061-02-6)
1,3-Dichloropropene (trans)
1,3-trans-Dichloro-1-propene
1,3-trans-Dichloropropene
1,3-trans-Dichloropropylene
1-Propene, 1,3-dichloro-, (E)-
trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
N/A
100% Rec (ML)
34.00 % RSD (ML)
10.00 ug/L
Precision Descriptor Notes:
The precision and accuracy values were determined using regression equations derived from a 15 laboratory validation study. The study determined analytes using reagent water, drinking water, surface water, and three industrial wastewaters spiked at six concentrations over the range 5 to 600 mg/L.
Detection Level Note:
MDL procedure is equivalent to the procedure at 40 CFR part 136, Appendix B. MDLs were determined using the standard deviation of 7 replicate analyses of a analyte-fortified reagent water sample multiplied by the t-value for 6 degrees of freedom at the 99% confidence level (3.14). Detailed instructions for how MDLs are determined are found in Section 14.1 of the Method.
Revision
PDF/Link
40 CFR Part 136, Appendix A (Current Edition)
The Water Quality Portal contains
sample results from
sites that use this method.
