Semivolatiles US EPA Method 8270 - Rtx®-5Sil MS

Significance of the Topic

Semivolatile organic compounds encompass a broad range of pollutants including pesticides, PCBs and nitrosamines. Accurate identification and quantification of these compounds is essential for environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance and human health risk assessment.

Study Objectives and Overview

This application note demonstrates the use of EPA Method 8270 for semivolatiles analysis by GC-MS. It aims to showcase separation efficiency, sensitivity and reliability of the Restek Rtx-5Sil MS column under a defined temperature program and MS detection parameters.

Used Instrumentation

• Gas chromatograph with splitless injector
• Restek Rtx-5Sil MS capillary column (30 m length, 0.25 mm ID, 0.25 µm film)
• Mass spectrometer operated in scan mode (35–550 amu)

Methodology

• Injection of 80 ng of EPA 8270 standard in splitless mode
• Oven temperature program: initial 40 °C (2 min), ramp to 245 °C at 25 °C/min, then to 330 °C at 6 °C/min (hold 5 min)
• Carrier gas: helium at 1.0 mL/min constant flow
• Injector and detector temperatures set to 300 °C and 280 °C, respectively

Main Results and Discussion

The method achieved baseline separation of over one hundred semivolatile analytes ranging from low-retention nitrosamines and phenols to high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Surrogate and internal standards such as phenol-d6, naphthalene-d8 and perylene-d12 exhibited consistent retention and instrument response, validating accuracy and reproducibility. The temperature program effectively resolved isomeric chlorophenols and nitrotoluenes, supporting robust qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Comprehensive profiling of semivolatile pollutants in environmental, food and industrial samples
• High sensitivity and selectivity through MS detection in full-scan mode
• Reliable performance across a wide volatility range with minimal matrix interferences

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include faster temperature ramps, multidimensional GC, high-resolution MS and automated data processing to increase throughput and selectivity. Integration with isotopic labeling and chemometric tools will further enhance trace-level quantification and compound identification.

Conclusion

EPA Method 8270 implemented with the Rtx-5Sil MS column provides a robust, versatile platform for semivolatile compound analysis. The validated retention and detection performance support its adoption for routine environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance.