title: Static headspace analysis of volatile organic compounds in soil and vegetation samples for site characterization.
abstract: Traditional methodologies for the characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in subsurface soil are expensive, time-consuming processes that are often conducted on samples collected at random. The determination of VOCs in near-surface soils and vegetation is the foundation for a more efficient sampling strategy to characterize subsurface soil and improve understanding of environmental problems. In the absence of a standard methodology for the determination of VOCs in vegetation and in view of the high detection limits of the method for soils, we developed a methodology using headspace gas chromatography with an electron capture detector for the determination of low levels (parts-per-billion to parts-per-trillion) of VOCs in soils and vegetation. The technique demonstrates good sensitivity, good recoveries of internal standards and surrogate compounds, good performance, and minimal waste. A case study involving application of this technique as a first-step vadose-zone characterization methodology is presented.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rose