Quantitative determination of 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran in groundwater by solid phase extraction GC/MS/MS.
Groundwater contamination by cyclic ethers, 1,4-dioxane (dioxane), a probable human carcinogen, and tetrahydrofuran (THF), a co-contaminant at many chlorinated solvent release sites, are a growing concern. Cyclic ethers are readily transported in groundwater, yet little is known about their fate in environmental systems. High water solubility coupled with low Henry's law constants and octanol-water partition coefficients make their removal from groundwater problematic for both remedial and analytical purposes. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method based on activated carbon disks was developed for the quantitative determination of dioxane and THF. The method requires 80 mL samples and a total of 1.2 mL of solvent (acetone). The number of steps is minimized due to the "in-vial" elution of the disks. Average recoveries for dioxane and THF were 98% and 95%, respectively, with precision, as indicated by the relative standard deviation of <2% to 6%. The method quantitation limits are 0.31 microg/L for dioxane and 3.1 microg/L for THF. The method was demonstrated by analyzing groundwater samples for dioxane and THF collected during a single sampling campaign at a TCA-impacted site. Dioxane concentrations and areal extent of dioxane in groundwater were greater than those of either TCA or THF.
Isaacson
Carl
C
Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA.
Mohr
Thomas K G
TK
Field
Jennifer A
JA
D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D004146:Dioxanes; D005663:Furans; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C018674:tetrahydrofuran; C025223:1,4-dioxane