Rapid in situ collection and analysis of semivolatile organics by thermal extraction cone penetrometry gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A thermal extraction cone penetrometer (TECP) has been developed to detect subsurface contaminants in situ without bringing soil to the surface or into a collection chamber. Coupled with thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) sample collection and analysis can be accomplished in ∼20 min for the full range of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Target Compounds (EPA). TECP extraction efficiencies of 50 to 100% can be obtained for most EPA Method 8270 compounds. Results of 99 volatile and semivolatile organics analyzed from the same TECP extracted soil in 16 and 40 min are presented. Measurement precision and accuracy were well within the Method 8270 benchmarks required for solvent-extracted soils analyzed by GC/MS. The total ion and reconstructed ion current chromatograms are shown for chlorinated solvents and gasoline constituents extracted from a hazardous waste site located at Hanscom Air Force Base (Bedford, MA). Data compared favorably against traditional purge and trap GC/MS. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 4: 85–92, 2000