US EPA Method 8260 Using the Teledyne Tekmar Atomx XYZ and Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ 1310 GC and ISQ™ 7000 MS System with an ExtractaBrite Source

Importance of Topic

Accurate measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental matrices is essential for regulatory compliance, public health protection, and remediation monitoring. Method 8260 establishes a standardized approach for purging and trapping VOCs from water and soil, enabling detection at sub-ppb levels. Advances in instrumentation, such as enhanced moisture control and precise trap cooling, further increase throughput and data quality in high-volume laboratories.

Study Objectives and Overview

This work aimed to:

• Develop linear calibration curves for 96 target VOCs spanning 0.2–200 ppb in water and 1–200 ppb in soil.
• Determine method detection limits (MDLs) using seven replicate low-level standards.
• Demonstrate initial capability (IDC) through precision and accuracy assessments at 20 ppb for both matrices.

All experiments followed US EPA Method 8260 in combination with Methods 5030 and 5035.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation involved spiking internal standards and surrogates into water (5 mL) or soil extracts, achieving 25 ppb targets. Calibration standards were prepared in methanol.

Použitá instrumentace

• Teledyne Tekmar Atomx XYZ purge and trap system with 84-position autosampler, optimized trap cooling and moisture control.
• Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 gas chromatograph equipped with a 20 m Rtx VMS column.
• Thermo Scientific ISQ 7000 mass spectrometer with ExtractaBrite source, scanning 35–260 amu.

Main Results and Discussion

Key findings included:

• Calibration linearity for all compounds yielded r² ≥ 0.99 and RF RSD ≤ 20%.
• MDLs were below 0.25 ppb for the majority of water analytes and below 0.6 ppb in soil tests.
• IDC precision (n=7 at 20 ppb) was < 10% RSD for 100 of 103 compounds in water and < 11% RSD for all soil targets.
• Average recovery was 88% in water and 98% in soil, meeting ±30% accuracy criteria.
• Chromatograms demonstrated sharp, resolved peaks with minimal water interference.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This configuration delivers:

• Enhanced throughput via reduced cycle times (14% shorter than prior models).
• Improved moisture removal, extending column life.
• Robust, leak-resistant design supporting routine environmental monitoring.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Upcoming developments may include:

• Faster GC oven ramps and optimized MS acquisition to further reduce analysis time.
• Integration with high-resolution MS for compound confirmation.
• Automated data processing workflows to accelerate reporting.
• Expansion to on-site and field-deployable P&T systems for rapid screening.

Conclusion

The Teledyne Tekmar Atomx XYZ paired with Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 GC and ISQ 7000 MS reliably meets US EPA Method 8260 requirements for VOC analysis in water and soil. The system achieves low detection limits, high precision, and accurate quantification across a broad analyte range, while offering enhanced throughput and operational robustness.

Reference

1. US EPA SW-846 Method 8260B Revision 2, 1996.
2. US EPA SW-846 Method 8260C Revision 3, 2006.
3. US EPA SW-846 Method 8260D Revision 4, 2017.
4. US EPA SW-846 Method 5030B Revision 2, 1996.
5. US EPA SW-846 Method 5030C Revision 3, 2003.
6. US EPA Method 5035A Revision 1, 2002.