Simplifying Persistent Issues with Dioxins Analysis in the Environment using GC/MS/MS

U.S. EPA Method 1613B has been one of the primary methods used in the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in wastewater, soils, sludges, and other matrices. These compounds have more than 200 congeners, and seventeen of them are highly toxic and of interest in trace analysis.

Historically, these analyses have been performed using magnetic sector high resolution GC/MS. In 2021, the U.S. EPA approved an alternate testing protocol (ATP) that accepts GC/TQ as an equivalent technology for the analysis of dioxins in environmental samples.

This work shows the Agilent triple quadrupole GC/MS system can achieve the sensitivity required to meet and exceed guidance for the analysis of PCDD/PCDFs at all concentration levels.

Presenter: Joel Ferrer (Product Manager - Agilent QQQ GC/MS, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Joel Ferrer is the Product Manager for the Agilent Triple Quadrupole GC/MS portfolio. He obtained his B.S. in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University where he gained experience on Agilent LC/MS and GC/MS instrumentation performing metabolomics research in the Department of Chemistry. Joel later earned his MBA from the University of Houston with a focus in Product Management and Marketing Analytics. He’s been with Agilent for over 5 years and in his current product management role since June 2020.