EPA Method 608 uses liquid-liquid extraction by separatory funnel combined with gas chromatography and electron capture detector for the analysis of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in municipal and industrial waste water. Unlike the drinking water methods, however, analysis of waste waters and the streams they flow into, need to contend with particulates. The Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ AutoTrace™ 280 instrument has features that allow analysis of samples even with high amounts of suspended solids and is suitable for use in EPA Method 608.

EPA Method 525.2, Determination of Organic Compounds in Drinking Water by Liquid-Solid Extraction and Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, can be used as a basis for developing a liquid-solid extraction method for EPA Method 625, Methods for Organic Chemical Analysis of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater. Unlike the drinking water methods, however, analysis of wastewaters need to contend with particulates. The AutoTrace™ 280 Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) instrument has features that allow analysis of samples even with high amounts of suspended solids.

EPA Method 525.2, Determination of Organic Compounds in Drinking Water by Liquid-Solid Extraction and Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, can be used as a basis for developing a liquid-solid Extraction method for EPA Method 608, Methods for Organic Chemical Analysis of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater. Unlike the drinking water methods, however, analysis of wastewaters and the streams they flow into, need to contend with particulates. The Dionex AutoTrace 280 instrument has features that allow analysis of samples even with high amounts of suspended solids.

The EPA Methods 8260 and 8270 are the basis of the sample preparation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and PCBs in surface and ground water. The SPE method described in this Application Brief (AB) also recovers these compounds along with 1,4-Dioxan.

In recent years, there has been some concern about the levels of triclosan found in drinking water. Triclosan is an antibacterial compound used in a wide range of detergents, soaps, creams, and kitchen sprays. Such widespread use of triclosan requires the need to screen drinking water for the presence of this compound.