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etc AIR, WATER & HAZ_'�DOUS WASTE .BORATORY CERTIFIED by CALIFORNI )EPT of HEALTH SER1'ICES FID. Both techniques are sufficiently sensitivW to detect spilled fuels at sub part per million levels. CON61ENTS REGARDING EPA METHDDS 8015, 8020, 8240 & 82'J0 EPA apparently has included this method in SW-846 to provide guidance for the determination of potentially hazardous materials which do not respond well to electron-capture detection (ECD), photoionizotion detection (PID) or halogen-selective detection (HALL). Since the flame ionization detector (FID) employed by EPA 8015 is both sensitive and non-selective, most organic compounds listed will produce a strong signal. Therefore, acrylamide, carbon disulfi.. diethyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl kttone (MIRK), and poroldehyde which are the compounds listed in EPA 8015 can readily be detected using this method. Furthermore, the FID is sufficiently nonselective to permit extension of the method to a host of other materials. In many commerr,iol laboratories, fuels are determined by pattern comparison _ using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) using an ' adaptation of EPA Method 8015. Somplss containing volatile arolytes may be introduced to the gas chromtograph by direct injection, headspace (EPA Method 5020) or purge-and-trap (EPA Method 5030). When used in this way, EPA Method $015 can to used to characterize gasoline, diesel #2, ,)et fuel, aviation gas. Stoddard solvent and other volatile hydrocarbon distillates. The results may be expressed in terms of "ppm gasoline", "ppm total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH)" or some other appropriate description. The analysis is described as a "TPPH (Total Purgeable Petroleum Hydrocarbon Analysis)", a "fuel characterization analysis", . or a "fuel fingerprint". A column substitution is usually made as even the volatile fuels contain some components requiring temperatures beyond the maxima permitted for the columns specified in EPA Method 8015. When semivoiatile fuels or onalytes are to be determined, the FID end EPA Method 8015 may still be employed. In suet cases, the sample may be Introduced by direct injection, prepared for analysis by ll.quid-liquid extraction (EPA NO Method 3510), sonication (EPA M-thod 3550) or cVxhlet extraction (EPA Method 3540). Following extract Concentration, r.-o aliquot of the aonaontrote is subjected to gas chromatographic separation followed by flame ionization Los detection. Thur variation of EPA Method 8015 is often used for the analysis of diesel A, crude oil, bunker fuel and fuel oil #'6. It is sometimes used for the analysis of diesel q2 and even gasoline, although much of the gasoline components are lost during the concentration step. This type of analysis is often described as a TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon analysis). When doing this type of analysis, CCAS refers to the results as Total Semivolati3c Petroleum Hydrocarbons and lists the fuel used as a standard for quantifying the material. CCAS uses standards which are provided by the client or which resemble the samples, chromatographic pattern. While CCAS is capable of performing all of the oformentioned variations of EPA 8015, our recommended approaches to the analysis of nanhologenated volatile organics, volatile fuels and in some cases, even semivolatlle fuels are based upon OC/MS as outlined in EPA Methods $24.2, 8244 and 8270. If techniques such as cryogenic focussing, selected ion monitoring, capillary column Pogo 6 CENTRAL COAST ANALYTICAL SERVICES San Luis Obispo. California (805) 543-2553