Quantitative Determination of Volatile Organic Pollutants in Water Using Headspace–Trap GC–MS

This study shows that headspace samples acquired on the new Centri automated multi-mode sampling and concentration system for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) can be used to quantify a wide range of volatile organic pollutants in water. Analysis of an 83-component standard based on the list in US EPA Method 524.2 showed chromatographic performance within the requirements of the method, as indicated by the mean values for linearity (R2 0.9990), reproducibility (6.9% RSD) and analyte recovery (90%), and a mean detection limit of 0.11 ppb.