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 (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry).  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.  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.


(EPA SW-846)

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Method Data

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

Analyte List*

Analyte Formula CAS Number Detection Limit
Ethylbenzene
C8H10
100-41-4
5
 µg/L
Styrene
C8H8
100-42-5
5
 µg/L
cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
C3H4Cl2
10061-01-5
5
 µg/L
trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
C3H4Cl2
10061-02-6
5
 µg/L
n-Propylbenzene
C9H12
103-65-1
5
 µg/L
n-Butylbenzene
C10H14
104-51-8
5
 µg/L
p-Xylene
C8H10
106-42-3
5
 µg/L
4-Chlorotoluene
C7H7Cl
106-43-4
5
 µg/L
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
C6H4Cl2
106-46-7
5
 µg/L
1,2-Dibromoethane
C2H4Br2
106-93-4
5
 µg/L
Acrolein
C3H4O
107-02-8
5
 µg/L
1,2-Dichloroethane
C2H4Cl2
107-06-2
5
 µg/L
Acrylonitrile
C3H3N
107-13-1
5
 µg/L
Vinyl Acetate
C4H6O2
108-05-4
5
 µg/L
Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK)
C6H12O
108-10-1
5
 µg/L
Diisopropyl ether
C6H14O
108-20-3
5
 µg/L
m-Xylene
C8H10
108-38-3
5
 µg/L
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
C9H12
108-67-8
5
 µg/L
Bromobenzene
C6H5Br
108-86-1
5
 µg/L
Toluene
C7H8
108-88-3
5
 µg/L
Chlorobenzene
C6H5Cl
108-90-7
5
 µg/L
trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-Butene
C4H6Cl2
110-57-6
5
 µg/L
Ethyl Vinyl Ether
C4H7ClO
110-75-8
5
 µg/L
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
C6H3Cl3
120-82-1
5
 µg/L
Chlorodibromomethane
CHBr2Cl
124-48-1
5
 µg/L
Tetrachloroethene
C2Cl4
127-18-4
5
 µg/L
sec-Butylbenzene
C10H14
135-98-8
5
 µg/L
1,3-Dichloropropane
C3H6Cl2
142-28-9
5
 µg/L
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene
C2H2Cl2
156-59-2
5
 µg/L
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene
C2H2Cl2
156-60-5
5
 µg/L
Methyl tert-butyl ether
C5H12O
1634-04-4
5
 µg/L
1,3-Dichlorobenzene
C6H4Cl2
541-73-1
5
 µg/L
Carbon tetrachloride
CCl4
56-23-5
5
 µg/L
1,1-Dichloropropene
C3H4Cl2
563-58-6
5
 µg/L
Methyl butyl ketone (2-Hexanone)
C6H12O
591-78-6
5
 µg/L
2,2-Dichloropropane
C3H6Cl2
594-20-7
5
 µg/L
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
C2H2Cl4
630-20-6
5
 µg/L
Acetone
C3H6O
67-64-1
5
 µg/L
Chloroform
CHCl3
67-66-3
5
 µg/L
2-Chlorobromobenzene
C6H4BrCl
694-80-4
5
 µg/L
Benzene
C6H6
71-43-2
5
 µg/L
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
C2H3Cl3
71-55-6
5
 µg/L
Bromomethane
CH3Br
74-83-9
5
 µg/L
Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
CH3Cl
74-87-3
5
 µg/L
Methyl iodide
CH3I
74-88-4
5
 µg/L
Dibromomethane
CH2Br2
74-95-3
5
 µg/L
Chloroethane
C2H5Cl
75-00-3
5
 µg/L
Vinyl chloride
C2H3Cl
75-01-4
5
 µg/L
Methylene chloride
CH2Cl2
75-09-2
5
 µg/L
Carbon disulfide
CS2
75-15-0
5
 µg/L
Bromoform
CHBr3
75-25-2
5
 µg/L
1,1-Dichloroethane
C2H4Cl2
75-34-3
5
 µg/L
1,1-Dichloroethene
C2H2Cl2
75-35-4
5
 µg/L
Trichlorofluoromethane
CCl3F
75-69-4
5
 µg/L
Dichlorodifluoromethane
CCl2F2
75-71-8
5
 µg/L
1,2-Dichloropropane
C3H6Cl2
78-87-5
5
 µg/L
Methyl ethyl ketone (2-Butanone)
C4H8O
78-93-3
5
 µg/L
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
C2H3Cl3
79-00-5
5
 µg/L
Trichloroethene
C2HCl3
79-01-6
5
 µg/L
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
C2H2Cl4
79-34-5
5
 µg/L
1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
C6H3Cl3
87-61-6
5
 µg/L
Hexachlorobutadiene
C4Cl6
87-68-3
5
 µg/L
Naphthalene
C10H8
91-20-3
5
 µg/L
o-Xylene
C8H10
95-47-6
5
 µg/L
2-Chlorotoluene
C7H7Cl
95-49-8
5
 µg/L
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
C6H4Cl2
95-50-1
5
 µg/L
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
C9H12
95-63-6
5
 µg/L
1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane
C3H5Br2Cl
96-12-8
5
 µg/L
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
C3H5Cl3
96-18-4
5
 µg/L
tert-Butylbenzene
C10H14
98-06-6
5
 µg/L
Cumene (Isopropylbenzene)
C9H12
98-82-8
5
 µg/L
Cymene (4-Isopropyltoluene)
C10H14
99-87-6
5
 µg/L

* 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.