US EPA Method 8260 with the Atomx XYZ and the Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ 1310 GC and ISQ™ MS

Significance of the Topic

The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is critical for assessing environmental contamination in water and soil matrices.
Accurate VOC measurement supports regulatory compliance and protects public health by identifying trace-level pollutants in complex samples.

Study Objectives and Overview

This work applied US EPA Method 8260 together with Methods 5030 and 5035 to determine VOC concentrations in water and soil using a purge and trap GC-MS workflow.
The primary goal was to establish linear calibration ranges, determine method detection limits, and verify precision and accuracy at 0.5 ppb levels.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation involved mixing calibration standards of 96 target compounds in methanol and diluting them to span 0.5–200 ppb for water and soil.
An Atomx XYZ purge and trap system provided rapid trap cooling and advanced moisture control to minimize interferences.
The detection system comprised a Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 gas chromatograph fitted with an Rtx VMS column and an ISQ single quadrupole mass spectrometer scanning from 35 to 260 amu.

Main Results and Discussion

Calibration curves demonstrated relative standard deviations below 20 percent for all VOCs, meeting EPA criteria.
Method detection limits ranged from 0.03 to 0.27 ppb, ensuring sensitive quantitation.
Accuracy and precision studies at 0.5 ppb achieved recoveries between 83 and 130 percent with RSDs below 17 percent.
Total ion chromatograms for both water and soil showed well-resolved peaks with no significant water interference.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Atomx XYZ system increased throughput by up to 14 percent versus earlier models through faster trap cooling and efficient moisture removal.
This robust method is well suited for environmental testing, QA/QC laboratories, and regulatory monitoring of VOC contamination.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Optimizing GC oven temperature programs can further reduce analysis time and enhance laboratory throughput.
Integration of high-resolution mass spectrometry and advanced data analytics may improve compound identification in complex matrices.
Automation and field-deployable VOC sensors are emerging trends that could extend real-time environmental monitoring.

Conclusion

The combined Atomx XYZ purge and trap GC-MS workflow following EPA Method 8260 successfully quantified a broad range of VOCs in water and soil with high precision, accuracy, and low detection limits.
The approach delivers reliable performance and scalable throughput for environmental laboratories.

Reference

• US EPA SW-846 Method 8260B and 8260C
• US EPA SW-846 Method 5030B and 5030C