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.
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| 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 | 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.