Method 8260B Water

Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

Method 8260B is used to determine volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in aqueous matrices by GC/MS.  Method 8260B can be used to quantitate most volatile organic compounds that have boiling points below 200°C.  Such compounds include low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatics, ketones, nitriles, acetates, acrylates, ethers, and sulfides.

It is important during sample collection to fill the container completely to the top with no headspace.  Fill the container to overflowing but take care to not flush out any of the preservative in the container.  The sample should be collected in duplicate as well.  After sample collection, the sample can be introduced into the GC/MS using a variety of techniques.  Purge-and-trap, Method 5030, is the most commonly used technique but other acceptable techniques are direct injection, azeotropic distillation (Method 5031), and vacuum distillation (Method 5032). 

Note:  Method 8260B replaces Method 8240.

Method Data

Hold Times, Preservatives, Preps, Collection, Analytical & Documentation
Holding Time:	The methods states 7 days from sample collection to analysis if unpreserved, 14 days if preserved.
Preservatives:	Cool samples to 6°C ± 2.
Required Preps:	40mL VOA vial with Teflon-lined lid, preserved with HCl to pH <2. If residual chlorine is present, add 4 drops of 10% sodium thiosulfate solution.
Collection Method:	SW-846, Chapter 4, Section 4.1.2
Analytical Methodology:	GC/MS by SW-846 8260B
Documentation:	8260B

* The analytes and detection limits listed for each method represent the typical detection limits and analytes reported for that particular method. Keep in mind that analyte lists may vary from laboratory to laboratory. Detection limits may also vary from lab to lab and are dependent upon the sample size, matrix, and any interferences that may be present in the sample.