Vapor-fortified QA/QC samples for the analysis of volatile organic compounds

(S^J D Vapor-Fortified QA/QC Samples for the Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Alan D. Hewitt February 1994 Abstract Vapor fortification is a precise treatment method for preparing soil subsamples for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This method of spiking is unique in that the fortification level is soil-type specific and the treatment mechanism is analogous to how soil in the vadose zone becomes contaminated by vapors from liquid VOC point sources. Soil subsamples treated by vapor fortification and sealed in glass ampoules until analysis have shown both good precision within batch and among batches, and analyle concentration stability for a month or longer. Vapor-fortified quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) soils are more environmentally representative than soils fortified by liquid spiking procedures for the analysis of VOCs in vadose zone samples. DATEIDUE GAYLORD “RINTED'IN UJS.A. For conversion of SI metric units to U.S./British customary units of measurement consult ASTM Standard E380-89a, Standard Practice for Use o f the International System o f Units, published by the American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103. This report is printed on paper that contains a minimum of 50% recycled material. Special Report 94-2 BUREAU OF RECLAMATION DENVER LIBRARY US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory Vapor-Fortified QA/QC Samples for the Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Alan D. Hewitt February 1994 Prepared for U.S. ARMY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER SFIM-AEC-TS-CR-94030 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 92049874 PREFACE This report was prepared by Alan D. Hewitt, Research Physical Scientist, Geological Sciences Branch, Research Division, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire. Funding for this work was provided by the U.S. Army Environmental Center (formerly the U.S. Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials Age