EPA-RCA: 3570: Organic Compounds from Solids by Microscale Solvent Extraction
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Official Method Name
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Microscale Solvent Extraction from Solids |
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Current Revision
| Revision 0, November 2002 |
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Media
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SOILS/SEDIMENT |
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Instrumentation
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Kuderna-Danish Concentrator Tube |
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Method Subcategory
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Organic |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Brief Method Summary
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Method 3570 is a procedure for extracting selected volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile organic compounds from solid matrices such as soils, sludges, and wastes using a microscale approach which minimizes sample size and solvent usage, thereby reducing the supply costs, health and safety issues, and waste generated. Samples are prepared by shake extraction with an organic solvent in sealed extraction tubes. Careful manipulation of the sample, solvent, drying agent, and spiking solutions during the procedure minimizes loss of volatile compounds while maximizing extraction of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile compounds. Sample extracts are collected, dried, and concentrated using a modification of the Kuderna-Danish concentration method. By increasing the number of theoretical plates and reducing the distillation temperature, extracts are concentrated without loss of volatile constituents. |
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Scope and Application
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This method is a procedure for extracting volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile organic compounds from solids such as soils, sludges, and wastes. The microscale approach minimizes sample size and solvent usage, thereby reducing the supply costs, health and safety issues, and waste generated. This method has been validated for several mono- and poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs and PAHs) and can be applied to any combination of these compounds. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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Interferences
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Solvents, reagents, glassware, and other sample processing hardware may yield artifacts and/or interferences to sample analysis. All these materials must be demonstrated to be free from interferences under the conditions of the analysis by analyzing method blanks. Specific selection of reagents and purification of solvents by distillation in all-glass systems may be necessary. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Before processing any samples, the analyst should demonstrate that all parts of the equipment in contact with the sample and reagents are interference-free. This is accomplished through the analysis of a method blank. Each time samples are extracted, cleaned up, and analyzed, and when there is a change in reagents, a method blank should be prepared and analyzed for the compounds of interest as a safeguard against chronic laboratory contamination. |
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Sample Handling
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Pay particular attention to minimizing the exposure of the sample and/or extract to air. Keep samples chilled. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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14 days |
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Relative Cost
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$201 to $400 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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