EPA-RCA: 8100: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water and Solid Samples by GC-FID

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Current Revision

Revision 0, September 1986

Media

VARIOUS

Instrumentation

Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection

Method Subcategory

Organic

Method Source

EPA-RCA

Citation

SW-846 Online: Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods

Brief Method Summary

Samples are extracted and cleaned up (according to sample matrix) and then are directly injected into a gas chromatograph using the solvent flush technique and are detected by a flame ionization detector.

Scope and Application

This method determines the concentration of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and solid samples using gas chromatography and flame ionization detection.

Applicable Concentration Range

Not Available.

Interferences

(A) Method interferences: Contaminants in solvents, reagents, glassware, and other sample processing hardware may lead to elevated baselines and/or other interferences in the gas chromatograms. Routine analysis of reagent blanks should be performed as a check for method interferences. Proper selection of reagents and purification of solvents by distillation in all-glass systems may be required.
(B) Matrix interferences: Unique samples may require additional cleanup.
(C) Refer to Methods 3500, 3600, and 8000.

Quality Control Requirements

Refer to Chapter One and Methods 8000, 3500, and 3600 for specific QC procedures. Procedures include: validation of extraction and clean up techniques, analysis of quality control check samples, method blanks, matrix spikes, and surrogates. In addition, refer to Method 8000, Section 8.6 for procedures to check the GC system operation.

Sample Handling

See SW-846 Chapter Four for information. See the introductory material to this chapter, Organic Analytes, Section 4.1. Extracts must be stored under refrigeration.

Maximum Holding Time

Aqueous samples - 7 days (sample), 40 days (extract). Solid samples - 14 days (sample), 40 (extract). Also, see SW-846 Chapter Four for information.

Relative Cost

$201 to $400

Sample Preparation Methods

Methods 3510, 3520, 3540, or 3550

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	N/A	55% Rec (ML)	65.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Acenaphthylene(208-96-8) Acenaphthalene Acenaphthylene Cyclopenta(de)naphthalene	N/A	60% Rec (ML)	46.40 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Anthracene(120-12-7) Anthracene Anthracin Green oil Paranaphthalene Tetra olive n2g	N/A	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	N/A	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	N/A	56% Rec (ML)	53.10 % 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	N/A	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	N/A	46% Rec (ML)	59.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Benzo(k)fluoranthene(207-08-9) 11,12-Benzofluoranthene B(k)F Benz(k)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene	N/A	59% Rec (ML)	69.80 % 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	N/A	76% Rec (ML)	64.60 % 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	N/A	41% Rec (ML)	45.40 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Fluoranthene(206-44-0) 1,2-Benzacenaphthene Benzo(j,k)fluorene Fluoranthene Idryl	N/A	68% Rec (ML)	32.20 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Fluorene(86-73-7) 2,2'-Methylenebiphenyl 9H-Fluorene Diphenylenemethane Fluorene o-Biphenylenemethane	N/A	53% Rec (ML)	56.90 % 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	N/A	54% Rec (ML)	42.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Naphthalene(91-20-3) Moth balls Naphthalene Naphthalin Naphthene Tar camphor White tar	N/A	54% Rec (ML)	47.90 % 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	N/A	67% Rec (ML)	45.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Pyrene(129-00-0) Benzo[def]phenanthrene Pyrene Pyrene[def]phenanthrene	N/A	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:	Precision and accuracy values were calculated using regression equations from EPA Method 610 (reproduced in Method 8100).
Detection Level Note:	None.

Revision	PDF/Link
Revision 0, September 1986

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 ...

EPA-RCA: 8100: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water and Solid Samples by GC-FID

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL