Analysis of 27 Halogenated Hydrocarbons and 11 Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking Water

Significance of the topic

Contaminants such as halogenated hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose significant health risks when present in drinking water. Regulatory bodies worldwide, including China’s updated GB 5749-2022, mandate sensitive, accurate, and rapid analytical methods to ensure safe water supplies and protect public health.

Objectives and study overview

This application note presents a unified headspace sampling and gas chromatography approach for the simultaneous analysis of 27 halogenated hydrocarbons and 11 VOCs in drinking water. The primary goals were to assess method performance—repeatability, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, recovery—and to demonstrate compliance with national drinking water standards.

Methodology

Samples were prepared by spiking standard solutions into saline matrices in headspace vials. An Agilent 8697 headspace sampler equilibrated and extracted volatiles, transferring them to an Agilent 8860 GC inlet. A two-way splitter directed the vapor to two parallel columns: a DB-Select 624 UI column for halogenated hydrocarbons detected by ECD, and a DB-WAX UI column for VOCs detected by FID. Calibration curves were built at six concentration levels, and method validation followed GB/T 5750.8-202× guidelines.

Used instrumentation

• Agilent 8697 headspace sampler
• Agilent 8860 GC system with ECD and FID detectors
• J&W DB-Select 624 UI column (30 m × 0.32 mm, 1.8 μm)
• J&W DB-WAX UI column (30 m × 0.32 mm, 0.25 μm)
• Nitrogen carrier gas, H₂ fuel for FID, and optimized oven programs

Main results and discussion

Repeatability: RSDs ranged from 0.4 % to 6.1 % on ECD and 0.7 % to 2.3 % on FID. Linearity: determination coefficients (R²) were between 0.9974 and 0.9999 for all 36 analytes. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) spanned 0.0004–1.03 µg/L for halogenated hydrocarbons and 0.28–6.52 µg/L for VOCs; limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.0001 to 0.3091 µg/L and 0.085 to 1.96 µg/L, respectively. Recoveries were 80 %–105 % for halogenated hydrocarbons and 80.9 %–102 % for VOCs. A tap water sample test confirmed the detection of disinfection by-products below regulatory limits.

Benefits and practical applications

This integrated method enables simultaneous quantitation of multiple volatile contaminants on a single platform, reducing analysis time by up to 50 % and ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory criteria. It is well suited for routine water quality monitoring in environmental laboratories and regulatory agencies.

Future trends and potential applications

Advances may include fully automated sample handling, expansion of target analyte panels to emerging contaminants, and coupling with high-resolution or mass spectrometric detectors. The approach can be adapted to more complex matrices such as wastewater and industrial effluents for comprehensive environmental surveillance.

Conclusion

The combined Agilent 8697 headspace sampler and 8860 GC/ECD/FID system offers a robust, sensitive, and efficient solution for the simultaneous analysis of 27 halogenated hydrocarbons and 11 VOCs in drinking water, meeting or exceeding current regulatory performance requirements.

References

1. GB 5749-2022, Standards for Drinking Water Quality.
2. GB/T 5750.8-202×, Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water—Part 8: Organic Indices.
3. Zhang Y. Determination of Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Benzene, and Derivatives in Drinking Water with the Agilent 8697 Headspace Sampler and Agilent 8860 GC System. Agilent Technologies application note, 2022.