POSTER: Trace-Level Quantification of SVOCs in Water via Vacuum Assisted Sorbent Extraction (VASE) Thermal Desorption-GC-MS

Authors: Sage J. B. Dunham, Victoria L. Noad, Bailey S. Arakelian & Daniel B. Cardin

• Current analytical methods for evaluating volatile and semi volatile organic compounds (VOCs & SVOCs) in water often require large sample volumes (1 L or more), are labor intensive, and rely upon liquid-liquid extraction into organic solvents.
• Here we present a sensitive, solvent-free method – termed vacuum assisted sorbent extraction (VASE) – for extraction and pre-concentration of VOCs and SVOCs in preparation for thermal desorption-GC-MS.
• In VASE, the sample (often 1 mL or less for water) is evacuated in the presence of a headspace sorbent pen (HSP), which is a vacuum-tight cartridge containing sorbent. In combination with optional heat and agitation, the static reduced pressure environment promotes compounds into the headspace for adherence to an internal sorbent bed.
• Here we demonstrate the application of VASE for extraction and quantitation of several water pollutants routinely analyzed by EPA method 8270. Compounds with boiling points ranging from 80°C to over 550°C are examined, including 2-6-ring polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and disinfection by-products.