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 col- lection 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 effi- ciencies 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 ex- tracted soil in 16 and 40 min are presented. Measurement precision and accuracy were well within the Method 8270 benchmarks required for solvent-extracted soils ana- lyzed by GC/MS. The total ion and reconstructed ion cur- rent 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