Analysis of Semivolatile Organic Compounds with US EPA 8270E Using the Agilent 7000E Triple Quadrupole GC/MS

Importance of the Topic

The analysis of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) is critical in environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance. SVOCs appear in water and solid samples and often require trace-level detection. A robust analytical approach can reduce sample preparation volumes, improve sustainability, lower operational costs, and increase confidence in complex matrices.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note describes a fast and sensitive GC/TQ-MS method compliant with EPA 8270E for simultaneous analysis of 74 SVOCs. The goals were to demonstrate low-level detection down to 0.005 μg/mL, achieve a wide dynamic range up to 10 μg/mL, and illustrate the benefits of retention time locking, dynamic MRM, and optimized instrument tuning.

Methods and Instrumentation

An Agilent 8890 GC with a pulsed split inlet (5:1) and a 30 m × 0.25 mm DB-8270D UI column was employed. The oven was programmed to complete a run in 16.9 minutes with retention time locking to an internal standard acenaphthene-d10. Helium was used as the carrier gas. Detection was performed on an Agilent 7000E triple quadrupole MS in EI mode using dynamic MRM acquisition, with a 9 mm extractor lens, nitrogen collision gas, and helium quench gas. A calibration series of 11 levels (0.005–10 μg/mL) and deuterated internal standards ensured accurate quantification.

Results and Discussion

Chromatographic separation achieved baseline or acceptable resolution for key isomeric pairs (e.g., benzo[b/k]fluoranthene at 88.6 % resolution; indeno[cd]pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene at 62.6 %). Dynamic MRM reduced the number of concurrent transitions, simplified method updates, and improved selectivity over SIM or full-scan modes. Instrument tuning using a manufacturer protocol confirmed mass accuracy and resolution without reliance on DFTPP. Calibration showed 69 out of 74 analytes using average response factor curves with RSD ≤ 20 %. Five challenging compounds were fitted with weighted quadratic regressions achieving R2 ≥ 0.99 (e.g., 2,4-dinitrophenol R2 = 0.9979; pentachlorophenol R2 = 0.9966). NDMA exhibited an RSD of 5.7 % and linearity across the calibrated range (R2 = 0.9995).

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High selectivity of MRM reduces matrix interferences and accelerates data review.
• Enhanced sensitivity allows smaller sample and extract volumes, reducing solvent use and waste.
• Retention time locking maintains consistent performance after maintenance.
• Dynamic MRM simplifies the addition or removal of analytes.
• Broad dynamic range minimizes reruns for samples of varying concentrations.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Future developments may integrate automated sample preparation and advanced data processing to further increase throughput. Emerging acquisition modes and ion source enhancements will enable even lower detection limits. Extending these workflows to novel environmental contaminants, including PFAS and polar SVOCs, will expand applications in environmental protection, food safety, and industrial monitoring.

Conclusion

The optimized GC/TQ-MRM method delivers rapid, reliable, and sustainable analysis of a wide range of SVOCs in a single short run. It meets EPA 8270E specifications, achieves low detection limits, and supports cost-effective laboratory operations.

References

• EPA Method 8270E: Semivolatile Organic Compounds by GC/MS, Revision 4, 2018.
• Churley et al. Fast Method for EPA 8270 in MRM Mode Using the 7000 Series GC/TQ, Agilent application note, 2019.
• Anderson et al. Modified Ion Source Triple Quadrupole MS for PAH Analyses. Journal of Chromatography A, 2015.