Aqueous Extraction-Headspace/Gas Chromatographic Meth od for Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Soils

Abstract

This study compares aqueous extraction-headspace/Gas Chromatography (GC) and the EPA SW-846 purge-and-trap-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(Method 8240)for the determination of four common Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in soils. Comparisons were made on two fortified soils and two contaminated field soils. In only two of the cases were consistent significant differences found-for the two most hydrophobic compounds in a high organic carbon soil, and for TCE in a field-contaminated soil that had previously shown slow aqueous VOC desorption. The findings strongly suggest that aqueous extraction-headspace/GC can be used not only to screen soils for VOCs giving same-day results, but often will provide results not significantly different from current laboratory based measurements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA253124

Entities

People

  • Alan D. Hewitt
  • Daniel C. Leggett
  • Paul H. Miyares
  • Thomas F. Jenkins

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chromatography
  • Desorption
  • Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Protection
  • Gas Chromatography
  • Groundwater
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Information Science
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Measurement
  • Organic Compounds
  • Physical Properties
  • Standards
  • United States
  • Volatile Organic Compounds

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Analytical Chemistry