Standard Methods: 6440 B: PAH's in Water by HPLC

Summary
Analytes
Revisions
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography or Gas Chromatography

Current Revision

Standard Methods Online

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Method Subcategory

Organic

Method Source

Standard Methods

Citation

Standard Methods Online - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater

Brief Method Summary

PAHs are extracted form a sample with methylene chloride. The extract is concentrated and analyzed by either HPLC or GC-FID.

Scope and Application

This method determines polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in municipal and industrial discharges.

Applicable Concentration Range

8xMDL - 800xMDL* [* Recoveries for benzo(ghi)perylene at 80x and 800x MDL were low (35% and 45%, respectively).] [Note: (MDL) = Method Detection Limit]

Interferences

(1) Method interferences caused by contaminants in solvents, reagents, glassware, and other sample processing hardware that lead to discrete artifacts and/or elevated baselines in the chromatograms. (2) Matrix interferences caused by contaminants co-extracted from the sample.

Quality Control Requirements

MS, IPR, QCS (and See Standard Methods Section 6200 A.5).

Sample Handling

Collect samples in 1 L amber glass bottles. Refrigerate samples at 4^oC, away from the light, until analysis. Treat samples with 80 mg sodium thiosulfate/L of sample if residual chlorine is present. Extract samples within 7 days of collection and analyze within 40 days of extraction.

Maximum Holding Time

7 days (prior to extraction) 40 days (after extraction)

Relative Cost

$201 to $400

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 18 analytes associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Spiking Level
Acenaphthene(83-32-9) 1,2-Dihydroacenaphthylene 1,8-Ethylenenaphthalene Acenaphthene Acenaphthene,1,2-dihydro- Acenaphthylene, 1,2-dihydro- Periethylenenaphthalene	1.800 ug/L	55% Rec (ML)	65.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Acenaphthylene(208-96-8) Acenaphthalene Acenaphthylene Cyclopenta(de)naphthalene	2.300 ug/L	60% Rec (ML)	46.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Anthracene(120-12-7) Anthracene Anthracin Green oil Paranaphthalene Tetra olive n2g	0.660 ug/L	57% Rec (ML)	45.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benz[a]anthracene(56-55-3) 1,2-Benzanthracene 2,3-Benzphenanthrene Benz[a]anthracene Benzanthrene Benzo(a)anthracene Benzoanthracene Naphthanthracene Tetraphene	0.010 ug/L	73% Rec (ML)	34.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benzo(a)pyrene(50-32-8) 3,4-Benzopyrene 3,4-Benzpyrene BP BaP Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo[a]pyrene	0.020 ug/L	56% Rec (ML)	52.95 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benzo(b)fluoranthene(205-99-2) 2,3-Benzofluoranthene 3,4-Benzfluoranthene 3,4-Benzofluoranthene B(b)F Benz[e]acephenanthrylene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(e)fluoranthene Benzo[b]fluoranthene	0.018 ug/L	78% Rec (ML)	38.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene(191-24-2) 1,12-Benzoperylene 1,12-Benzperylene B(ghi)P Benzo(g,h,i)perylene Benzo(ghi)perylene	0.076 ug/L	46% Rec (ML)	58.50 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benzo(k)fluoranthene(207-08-9) 11,12-Benzofluoranthene B(k)F Benz(k)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene	0.017 ug/L	59% Rec (ML)	69.05 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Chrysene(218-01-9) 1,2,5,6-Dibenzonaphthalene 1,2-Benzophenanthrene 1,2-Benzphenanthrene Benz(a)phenanthrene Benzo(a)phenanthrene Chrysene	0.150 ug/L	76% Rec (ML)	64.90 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene(53-70-3) 1,2:5,6-Dibenzanthracene DB(a,h)A Dibenz(a,h)anthracene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene	0.030 ug/L	42% Rec (ML)	45.15 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Fluoranthene(206-44-0) 1,2-Benzacenaphthene Benzo(j,k)fluorene Fluoranthene Idryl	0.210 ug/L	68% Rec (ML)	32.15 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Fluorene(86-73-7) 2,2'-Methylenebiphenyl 9H-Fluorene Diphenylenemethane Fluorene o-Biphenylenemethane	0.210 ug/L	53% Rec (ML)	57.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene(193-39-5) 1,10-(1,2-Phenylene)pyrene 2,3-Phenylenepyrene Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene o-Phenylenepyrene	0.040 ug/L	54% Rec (ML)	42.05 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Naphthalene(91-20-3) Moth balls Naphthalene Naphthalin Naphthene Tar camphor White tar	1.800 ug/L	54% Rec (ML)	48.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Organics, semivolatile(E-12884) Organics, semivolatile Semi-volatile organics Semivolatile organics	N/A	N/A	N/A
Phenanthrene(85-01-8) Phenanthrene Phenathrin	0.640 ug/L	67% Rec (ML)	45.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Pyrene(129-00-0) Benzo[def]phenanthrene Pyrene Pyrene[def]phenanthrene	0.270 ug/L	68% Rec (ML)	42.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Volatile organic compounds(E-12419) Organic compounds, volatile VOCs Volatile organic compounds	N/A	N/A	N/A

Precision Descriptor Notes:	The precision and accuracy values were determined using regression equations derived from a 16 laboratory validation study. The study determined analytes using reagent water, drinking water, surface water, and three industrial wastewaters with known additions at six concentrations over the range 0.1 to 425 ?g/L. Single operator precision, overall precision, and accuracy were found to be directly related to the concentration of the parameter and essentially independent of the sample matrix. Regression equations are available in the method.
Detection Level Note:	MDLs determined per 40 CFR part 136, Appendix B.

Precision Descriptor Notes:

The precision and accuracy values were determined using regression equations derived from a 16 laboratory validation study. The study determined analytes using reagent water, drinking water, surface water, and three industrial wastewaters with known additions at six concentrations over the range 0.1 to 425 ?g/L. Single operator precision, overall precision, and accuracy were found to be directly related to the concentration of the parameter and essentially independent of the sample matrix. Regression equations are available in the method.

Detection Level Note:

MDLs determined per 40 CFR part 136, Appendix B.

Revision	PDF/Link
Standard Methods Online
Standard Methods 18th, 19th, 20th ed.
Standard Methods 19th Edition (1995)
Standard Methods 18th Edition (1992)
18th Edition (1992)

The Water Quality Portal contains sample results from sites that use this method.

Download WQP data

Select data:

Sites only
Sample results only

File format:

Comma-separated
Tab-separated
MS Excel 2007+

Sites where this method was used

Loading Sites ...

Standard Methods: 6440 B: PAH's in Water by HPLC

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL