Method TO-13A

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from PUF by GC/MS


This method includes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) specifically by utilizing polyurethane foam (PUF) as the sorbent followed by GC/MS analysis. The GC/MS method is applicable to the determination of PAHs compounds involving three member rings or higher. Naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and acenaphthene have only ~35 percent recovery when using PUF as the sorbent. Nitro-PAHs have not been fully evaluated using this procedure; therefore, they are not included in this method.


(EPA 600/4-89-017)

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Method Data

Hold Times, Preservatives, Preps, Collection, Analytical & Documentation
Holding Time:   7 days from collection to extraction
Preservatives:   Refrigerate at 4 °C
Required Preps:   102 mm quartz filters (baked), 3 inch PUF (soxhlet extracted) in glass cartridge 65 mm x 125 mm wrapped in foil; Use sandwich PUF (with XAD) when sampling for naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and acenaphthene
Collection Method:   TO-13A
Analytical Methodology:   GC/MS by TO-13A
Documentation:   TO-13A

Analyte List*

Analyte Formula CAS Number Detection Limit
Anthracene
C14H10
120-12-7
0.5
 µg
Pyrene
C16H10
129-00-0
0.5
 µg
Coronene
C24H12
191-07-1
0.5
 µg
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
C22H12
191-24-2
0.5
 µg
Benzo[e]pyrene
C20H12
192-97-2
0.5
 µg
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene
C22H12
193-39-5
0.5
 µg
Perylene
C20H12
198-55-0
0.5
 µg
Benzo[b]fluoranthene
C20H12
205-99-2
0.5
 µg
Fluoranthene
C16H10
206-44-0
0.5
 µg
Benzo[k]fluoranthene
C20H12
207-08-9
0.5
 µg
Acenaphthylene
C12H8
208-96-8
0.5
 µg
Chrysene
C18H12
218-01-9
0.5
 µg
Benzo[a]pyrene
C20H12
50-32-8
0.5
 µg
Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
C22H14
53-70-3
0.5
 µg
Benzo(a)anthracene
C18H12
56-55-3
0.5
 µg
Acenaphthene
C12H10
83-32-9
0.5
 µg
Phenanthrene
C14H10
85-01-8
0.5
 µg
Fluorene
C13H10
86-73-7
0.5
 µg
Naphthalene
C10H8
91-20-3
0.5
 µg

* 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.