US EPA Method 524.3 with the Tekmar Lumin P&T Concentrator and Agilent 7890B GC and 5977A MSD System

Importance of the Topic

The detection of trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water is critical for ensuring public health and meeting regulatory requirements. US EPA Method 524.3 is widely adopted for this purpose but often transfers significant water vapor into GC–MS systems, causing chromatography issues and increased maintenance.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note evaluates Teledyne Tekmar’s Lumin purge and trap (P&T) concentrator, equipped with a moisture control system (MCS), against a conventional AQUATek 100 P&T setup when using EPA Method 524.3. The study aims to compare water suppression, calibration linearity, method detection limits (MDLs), accuracy, precision, and chromatographic performance.

Methodology

Water samples were spiked with VOA MegaMix™ and 524.3 Gas Calibration Mix standards. Calibration curves (0.2 ppb–50 ppb) were constructed using isotopically labeled internal standards and surrogate compounds. Seven replicates at 0.5 ppb and 5.0 ppb levels were analyzed under identical Lumin and AQUATek 100 conditions to determine MDLs, accuracy, and precision.

Used Instrumentation

• Teledyne Tekmar Lumin P&T Concentrator with Moisture Control System
• Teledyne Tekmar AQUATek 100 P&T Concentrator
• Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph with DB-624 UI column (20 m × 0.18 mm ID, 1 µm film)
• Agilent 5977A Mass Selective Detector

Main Results and Discussion

The Lumin system maintained excellent calibration linearity (r2 ≥ 0.995) across all VOCs and achieved MDLs below 0.2 ppb for early-eluting compounds without interference from water. Accuracy at 0.5 ppb ranged from 82 % to 108 %, and precision (%RSD) stayed below 11 % for all targets. Chromatograms of a 5 ppb standard showed well-resolved peaks and minimal water-related noise, demonstrating effective moisture control.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Reduced water load extends column life and reduces GC–MS downtime.
• Reliable, high-sensitivity monitoring of trace VOCs in drinking water and environmental samples.
• Increased sample throughput due to faster trap cooling and shorter cycle times.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances in real-time moisture suppression and automation will further enhance VOC monitoring in field and industrial settings. Expanding P&T technology to cover emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polar organics, could broaden analytical capabilities.

Conclusion

Integrating Teledyne Tekmar’s Lumin P&T concentrator with MCS into EPA Method 524.3 workflows significantly reduces water interference in GC–MS analysis, delivering robust, sensitive, and efficient VOC detection in drinking water.

Reference

• Munch, J. W. Measurement of Purgeable Organic Compounds in Water by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry; US EPA Method 524.3 – Revision 1.0, June 2009.