USGS-NWQL: O-1104:  Organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds, dissolved

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds,dissolved, gas chromatographic
Current Revision
1983
Media
WATER
Instrumentation
Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture 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
Approximately one liter of water is filtered through a 0.7 micron glass fiber filter. Organochlorine and organophosphorous compounds are extracted from the filtered water with hexane. Organophosphorous compounds are determined on a gas chromatograph with flame photometric detectors. The extracts are then purified using adsorption chromatography on an alumina column. If PCB's, PCN's, and toxaphene are present, the extracts are further purified using a silica gel column. The organochlorine compounds are then determined by gas chromatography using electron capture detectors.
Scope and Application
This method is suitable for the determination of organochlorine insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN's), and organophosphorous insecticides in filtered water containing at least 0.01ug/L of the analyte.
Applicable Concentration Range
0.01ug/l-0.6ug/l (undiluted)
Interferences
Compounds having chemical and physical properties similar to the compound of interest may cause interference. Sulfur and organosulfur compounds will interfere, but these substances can be removed by treating the final extracts with mercury; however, the mercury treatment will also remove organophosphorous compounds.
Quality Control Requirements
Reagent water blank for each batch of samples. Calibrate daily with two point calibration.
Sample Handling
Description: 1 L Glass bottle, amber
Treatment and Preservation: Bottle baked at 450 deg C by laboratory. DO NOT RINSE BOTTLE. Do not fill bottle beyond shoulder, as reagents must be added to the sample at the laboratory before analyses. Chill sample and maintain at 4 deg C; ship immediately.
Maximum Holding Time
Seven days from collection to extraction.
Relative Cost
$201 to $400
Sample Preparation Methods