Preparing soil samples for volatile organic compound analysis

JUN 2 3 1997 Bureau of Reclamation Reclamation Service Center Preparing Soil Samples for Volatile Organic Compound Analysis Alan D, Hewitt April 1997 $ Abstract: Three equilibrium headspace and three sol­vent extraction methods of preparing soil samples for determining volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were compared. Soil samples were spiked with five gasoline range aromatic compounds and four chlorinated com­pounds using Iwo different laboratory procedures that limit volatilization and biodegradation losses. All com­parisons were made with sample triplicates of one or more soil types. Recovery efficiencies for the prepara-tion methods depended on soil organic carbon content, octanol-water partition coefficients of specific analytes, length of solvent extraction, and the spiking procedure used. In general, methanol extraction was the most robust method for recovering spiked VOCs. Recovery efficiencies for VOCs with tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether and poly(propylene)glycol, as well as three equi­librium headspace methods, varied with the parameters tested. How to get copies of CRREL technical publications: Department of Defense personnel and contractors may order reports through the Defense Technical Information Center: DTIC-BR SUITE 0944 8725 JOHN J KINGMAN RD FT BELVOIRVA 22060-6218 Telephone 1 800 225 3842 E-mail help@dtic.mil msorders@dtic.mil WWW http://www.dtic.dla.mil/ All others may order reports through the National Technical Information Service: NTIS 5285 PORT ROYAL RD SPRINGFIELD VA 22161 Telephone 1 703 487 4650 1 703 487 4639 (TDD for the hearing-impaired) E-mail orders@ntis.fedworld.gov WWW http://www.fedworld.gov/ntis/ntishome.html A complete list of all CRREL technical publications is available from: USACRREL (CECRL-LP) 72 LYME RD HANOVER NH 03755-1290 Telephone 1 603 646 4338 E-mail techpubs@crrel.usace.army.mil For information on all aspects of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, visit our World Wide Web site: http://www.crrel.