Method TO-15

Volatile Organic Compounds (polar/non-polar) from Canisters by GC/MS


This method documents sampling and analytical procedures for the measurement of subsets of the 97 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are included in the 189 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) listed in Title III of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.  VOCs are defined in this method as organic compounds having a vapor pressure greater than 10-1 Torr at 25°C and 760mm Hg.  This method applies to VOCs with ambient concentrations above 0.5 ppbv.  TO-15 should be considered for use when a subset of the 97 Title III VOCs constitute the target list. 

This method is typically used for ambient air testing associated with the permitting procedures for emission sources. Solid adsorbents may be used as long as they meet the performance criteria set in TO-17.

The sample is collected in certified clean evacuated stainless steel canister.  It is possible to use the can also for pressurized sampling where a pump is needed to provide positive pressure to the sample canister.  The sample is analyzed using GC/MS.


(EPA 600/4-89-017)

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Method Data

Hold Times, Preservatives, Preps, Collection, Analytical & Documentation
Holding Time:   30 days from sample collection to analysis.
Preservatives:   None specified in the method.
Required Preps:   Stainless steel canister with the option of a flow controller.
Collection Method:   TO-15
Analytical Methodology:   GC/MS
Documentation:   TO-15

Analyte List*

Analyte Formula CAS Number Detection Limit
Ethylbenzene
C8H10
100-41-4
0.5
 ppbv
Styrene
C8H8
100-42-5
0.5
 ppbv
Benzyl chloride
C7H7Cl
100-44-7
0.5
 ppbv
p-Xylene
C8H10
106-42-3
0.5
 ppbv
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
C6H4Cl2
106-46-7
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Epoxybutane
C4H8O
106-88-7
0.5
 ppbv
Epichlorohydrin
C3H5ClO
106-89-8
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Dibromoethane
C2H4Br2
106-93-4
0.5
 ppbv
1,3-Butadiene
C4H6
106-99-0
0.5
 ppbv
Acrolein
C3H4O
107-02-8
0.5
 ppbv
Allyl chloride
C3H5Cl
107-05-1
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Dichloroethane
C2H4Cl2
107-06-2
0.5
 ppbv
Acrylonitrile
C3H3N
107-13-1
0.5
 ppbv
Chloromethyl Methyl Ether
C2H5ClO
107-30-2
0.5
 ppbv
Vinyl Acetate
C4H6O2
108-05-4
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK)
C6H12O
108-10-1
0.5
 ppbv
m-Xylene
C8H10
108-38-3
0.5
 ppbv
Toluene
C7H8
108-88-3
0.5
 ppbv
Chlorobenzene
C6H5Cl
108-90-7
0.5
 ppbv
Phenol
C6H6O
108-95-2
0.5
 ppbv
Hexane
C6H14
110-54-3
0.5
 ppbv
bis(2-Chloroethyl)ether
C4H8Cl2O
111-44-4
0.5
 ppbv
Propane sultone
1120-71-4
0.5
 ppbv
Pyrocatechol
C6H6O2
120-80-9
0.5
 ppbv
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
C6H3Cl3
120-82-1
0.5
 ppbv
Triethylamine
C6H15N
121-44-8
0.5
 ppbv
Dimethylaniline
C8H11N
121-69-7
0.5
 ppbv
Propionaldehyde (Propanal)
C3H6O
123-38-6
0.5
 ppbv
1,4-Dioxane
C4H8O2
123-91-1
0.5
 ppbv
Chloroprene
C4H5Cl
126-99-8
0.5
 ppbv
Tetrachloroethene
C2Cl4
127-18-4
0.5
 ppbv
Cresol (All Isomers)
1319-77-3
0.5
 ppbv
Xylenes (total)
1330-20-7
0.5
 ppbv
Ethyl Acrylate
C5H8O2
140-88-5
0.5
 ppbv
Ethylenimine
C2H5N
151-56-4
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl tert-butyl ether
C5H12O
1634-04-4
0.5
 ppbv
Diazomethane
CH2N2
334-88-3
0.5
 ppbv
Carbonyl sulfide
COS
463-58-1
0.5
 ppbv
Formaldehyde
CH2O
50-00-0
0.5
 ppbv
Urethane
C3H7NO2
51-79-6
0.5
 ppbv
Isooctane (2,2,4-Trimethylpentane)
C8H18
540-84-1
0.5
 ppbv
1,3-Dichloropropene
C3H4Cl2
542-75-6
0.5
 ppbv
bis-Chloromethyl ether
C2H4Cl2O
542-88-1
0.5
 ppbv
Carbon tetrachloride
CCl4
56-23-5
0.5
 ppbv
1,1-Dimethylhydrazine
C2H8N2
57-14-7
0.5
 ppbv
beta-Propiolactone
C3H4O2
57-57-8
0.5
 ppbv
Vinyl Bromide
C2H3Br
593-60-2
0.5
 ppbv
N-Nitrosomorpholine
C4H8N2O2
59-89-2
0.5
 ppbv
Methylhydrazine
CH6N2
60-34-4
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl Isocyanate
C2H3NO
624-83-9
0.5
 ppbv
Aniline
C6H7N
62-53-3
0.5
 ppbv
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
C2H6N2O
62-75-9
0.5
 ppbv
Sulfuric acid, diethyl ester
C4H10O4S
64-67-5
0.5
 ppbv
Methanol
CH4O
67-56-1
0.5
 ppbv
Chloroform
CHCl3
67-66-3
0.5
 ppbv
Hexachloroethane
C2Cl6
67-72-1
0.5
 ppbv
N,N-Dimethylformamide
C3H7NO
68-12-2
0.5
 ppbv
N-Nirtoso-N-Methylurea
684-93-5
0.5
 ppbv
Benzene
C6H6
71-43-2
0.5
 ppbv
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
C2H3Cl3
71-55-6
0.5
 ppbv
Bromomethane
CH3Br
74-83-9
0.5
 ppbv
Chloromethane (Methyl chloride)
CH3Cl
74-87-3
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl iodide
CH3I
74-88-4
0.5
 ppbv
Chloroethane
C2H5Cl
75-00-3
0.5
 ppbv
Vinyl chloride
C2H3Cl
75-01-4
0.5
 ppbv
Acetonitrile
C2H3N
75-05-8
0.5
 ppbv
Acetaldehyde
C2H4O
75-07-0
0.5
 ppbv
Methylene chloride
CH2Cl2
75-09-2
0.5
 ppbv
Carbon disulfide
CS2
75-15-0
0.5
 ppbv
Ethylene oxide
C2H4O
75-21-8
0.5
 ppbv
Bromoform
CHBr3
75-25-2
0.5
 ppbv
1,1-Dichloroethane
C2H4Cl2
75-34-3
0.5
 ppbv
1,1-Dichloroethene
C2H2Cl2
75-35-4
0.5
 ppbv
Phosgene
CCl2O
75-44-5
0.5
 ppbv
Propylenimime
C3H7N
75-55-8
0.5
 ppbv
Propylene oxide
C3H6O
75-56-9
0.5
 ppbv
Dimethyl Sulfate
C2H6O4S
77-78-1
0.5
 ppbv
Isophorone
C9H14O
78-59-1
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Dichloropropane
C3H6Cl2
78-87-5
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl ethyl ketone (2-Butanone)
C4H8O
78-93-3
0.5
 ppbv
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
C2H3Cl3
79-00-5
0.5
 ppbv
Trichloroethene
C2HCl3
79-01-6
0.5
 ppbv
Acrylamide
C3H5NO
79-06-1
0.5
 ppbv
Acrylic acid
C3H4O2
79-10-7
0.5
 ppbv
Monochloracetic Acid (MCAA)
C2H3ClO2
79-11-8
0.5
 ppbv
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
C2H2Cl4
79-34-5
0.5
 ppbv
Dimethyl carbamoyl chloride
C3H6ClNO
79-44-7
0.5
 ppbv
2-Nitropropane
C3H7NO2
79-46-9
0.5
 ppbv
Methyl methacrylate
C5H8O2
80-62-6
0.5
 ppbv
Hexachlorobutadiene
C4Cl6
87-68-3
0.5
 ppbv
o-Xylene
C8H10
95-47-6
0.5
 ppbv
o-Cresol
C7H8O
95-48-7
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Epoxyethylbenzene
C8H8O
96-09-3
0.5
 ppbv
1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane
C3H5Br2Cl
96-12-8
0.5
 ppbv
Cumene (Isopropylbenzene)
C9H12
98-82-8
0.5
 ppbv
Acetophenone
C8H8O
98-86-2
0.5
 ppbv
Nitrobenzene
C6H5NO2
98-95-3
0.5
 ppbv

* 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.