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Volatile Organics by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Volatile Organics by Gas Chromatography (GC)
Semivolatile Organics by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Pesticides, PCBs and Herbicides by Gas Chromatography (GC)
Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography(GC)
Hazardous Waste Characterization Analyses
Metals by ICP, GFAA and CVAA
Colorimetric Methods for Metals Speciation
Inorganic Analyses
Microbiological Analyses
Go back to top!Volatile Organics by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Volatile Organics EPA 8260B Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine714 Days Volatile Organics EPA 8260B Soil 40mL 1 x 40mL VOA Vial with Methanol and 3 x 40mL VOA Vials with Sodium Bisulfate and 1 unpreserved container for percent moisture Cool to 4°C3 Methanol and Sodium Bisulfate 14 Days Wastewater Volatile Organics EPA 624 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days Drinking Water Volatile Organics EPA 524.2 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days
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Volatile Organics by Gas Chromatography (GC)
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Volatile Organics EPA 8021B Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days Volatile Organics EPA 8021B Soil 40mL 1 x 40mL VOA Vial with Methanol and 1 unpreserved container for percent moisture Cool to 4°C3 Methanol 14 Days Wastewater Volatile Organics EPA 601 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days Wastewater Volatile Organics EPA 602 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days
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Semivolatile Organics by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Semivolatile Organics EPA 8270C Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Semivolatile Organics EPA 8270C Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 Wastewater Semivolatile Organics EPA 625 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9
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Pesticides, PCBs and Herbicides by Gas Chromatography (GC)
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Organochlorine Pesticides EPA 8081A Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Organochlorine Pesticides EPA 8081A Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 PCBs EPA 8082 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 PCBs EPA 8082 Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 PCBs in Oil EPA 8082 Modified Organic Liquid 5g 1 x 40mL VOA Vial None 14 Days10 EDB and DBCP EPA 8011 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days EDB in Soil EPA 8011 Modified Soil 30g 1 x 60mL Glass Jar w/ septum cap12 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days Chlorinated Herbicides EPA 8151A Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Chlorinated Herbicides EPA 8151A Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 Organophosphorus Pesticides EPA 8141A Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Organophosphorus Pesticides EPA 8141A Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 Wastewater Organochlorine Pesticides EPA 608 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 Check pH; Adjust 5-96;
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Wastewater PCBs EPA 608 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Wastewater Chlorinated Herbicides EPA 615 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 7 Days9 Drinking Water EDB and DBCP EPA 504.1 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3 Add Sodium Thiosulfate26 14 Days Drinking Water Chlorinated Pesticides EPA 508.1 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 HCl to pH <24
Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine24 14 Days22 Drinking Water Herbicides EPA 515.1 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 14 Days23 Drinking Water Semivolatil
e Organics EPA 525.2 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 HCl to pH <24
Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine24 14 Days22 Drinking Water Carbamate Pesticides EPA 531.1 Aqueous 60mL 2 x 60mL Glass Vial Monochloroacetic Acid Buffer at pH 3
Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 28 Days Drinking Water Endothall EPA 548.1 Aqueous 250mL 2 x 500mL Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3
Add Sodium Thiosulfate26 14 Days21 Drinking Water Diquat and Paraquat EPA 549.2 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Black Plastic Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Add Sodium Thiosulfate26 7 Days27 Drinking Water Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) EPA 552.2 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL Amber VOA Vials12 Add NH4Cl
Cool to 4°C3
Add Sodium Thiosulfate26 14 Days28
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Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography(GC)
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Hydrocarbon Fingerprint ASTM D3328-90 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 H2SO4 to pH <213 7 Days9 Hydrocarbon Fingerprint ASTM D3328-90 Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 TPH by (GC/FID) EPA 8100 Modified Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 H2SO4 to pH <213 7 Days9 TPH by (GC/FID) EPA 8100 Modified Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 API DRO EPA 8100 Modified Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 H2SO4 to pH <213 7 Days9 API DRO EPA 8100 Modified Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 API GRO EPA 8015 Modified Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24 14 Days API GRO EPA 8015 Modified Soil 40mL 1 x 40mL VOA Vial with Methanol and 1 unpreserved container for percent moisture Cool to 4°C3 Methanol 14 Days CT ETPH CT ETPH Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 7 Days9 CT ETPH CT ETPH Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 ME DRO ME 4.1.25 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 H2SO4 to pH <213 7 Days9 ME DRO ME 4.1.25 Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10 ME GRO ME 4.2.17 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24 14 Days ME GRO ME 4.2.17 Soil 40mL 1 x 40mL VOA Vial with Methanol and 1 unpreserved container for percent moisture Cool to 4°C3 Methanol 14 Days MA DEP VPH MA DEP VPH 2004 Aqueous 40mL 3 x 40mL VOA Vials12 Cool to 4°C3
HCl to pH <24 14 Days MA DEP VPH MA DEP VPH 2004 Soil 40mL 1 x 40mL VOA Vial with Methanol and 1 unpreserved container for percent moisture Cool to 4°C3 Methanol 28 Days MA DEP EPH MA DEP EPH 2004 Aqueous 1L 2 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 H2SO4 to pH <213 14 Days10 MA DEP EPH MA DEP EPH 2004 Soil 30g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days10
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Hazardous Waste Characterization Analyses
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 TCLP/SPLP Volatile Organics EPA 1311/1312 EPA 8260B Solid18 150g 2 x 125mL Glass Vial w/teflon septum cap16 Cool to 4°C3 14 Days19 TCLP/SPLP Metals, Semivolatiles, Pesticides and Herbicides EPA 1311/1312 EPA 6010B/7470A EPA 8270C EPA 8081A EPA 8151A Solid18 300g Glass Jar w/teflon liner17 Cool to 4°C3 28 Days19 14 Days19 Ignitability EPA 1010 Modified Solid 50g Glass or Plastic Jar None None Corrosivity (as pH) EPA 9045C Solid 50g Glass or Plastic Jar Cool to 4°C3 None Reactivity SW-846 Solid 50g Glass or Plastic Jar Cool to 4°C3 None Free Liquids EPA 9095 Solid 100g Glass or Plastic Jar None None
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Metals by ICP, GFAA and CVAA
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Total Metals (except Mercury) EPA 6010B Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle HNO3 to pH <2 180 Days Dissolved Metals (except Mercury) EPA 6010B Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle Filter First11 HNO3 to pH <2 180 Days Total Metals (except Mercury) EPA 6010B Soil 15g Glass or Plastic Bottle Cool to 4°C3 180 Days Total Mercury EPA 7470A Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle HNO3 to pH <2 28 Days Dissolved Mercury EPA 7470A Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle Filter First11 HNO3 to pH <2 28 Days Total Mercury EPA 7471A Soil 15g Glass or Plastic Bottle Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Wastewater and Drinking Water Total Metals (except Mercury) EPA 200.7 Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle HNO3 to pH <2 180 Days Wastewater Dissolved Metals (except Mercury) EPA 200.7 Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle Filter First11 HNO3 to pH <2 180 Days Wastewater and Drinking Water Total Mercury EPA 245.1 Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle HNO3 to pH <2 28 Days Wastewater Dissolved Mercury EPA 245.1 Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle Filter First11 HNO3 to pH <2 28 Days
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Colorimetric Methods for Metals Speciation
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Chromium, Hexavalent SM 3500-Cr D EPA 7196A Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle Cool to 4°C3 24 Hours Chromium, Hexavalent EPA 7196A Soil 15g Glass or Plastic Bottle Cool to 4°C3 30 Days Iron, Ferrous SM 3500-Fe D Aqueous 100mL Plastic Bottle None Analyze Immediately
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Inorganic Analyses
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Acidity SM 2310 B Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 14 Days Alkalinity SM 2320 B EPA 310.2 Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 14 Days BOD SM 5210 B Aqueous 1L Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours CBOD SM 5210 B Aqueous 1L Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Chloride EPA 325.2 EPA 300.0 EPA 9251 Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle None 28 Days Chlorine, Total Residual SM 4500-Cl G Aqueous 200mL Plastic or Glass Bottle None Analyze Immediately Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) SM 5220 D Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Color SM 2120 B Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Cyanide, Amenable to Chlorination EPA 335.1 Aqueous 500mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Remove Sulfide14 NaOH to pH >12
Cool to 4°C3 14 Days Cyanide, Total EPA 335.3 EPA 335.4 EPA 9012A Aqueous 500mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Remove Sulfide14 NaOH to pH >12
Cool to 4°C3 14 Days Fluoride SM 4500-F C EPA 300.0 Aqueous 300mL Plastic Bottle Only None 28 Days MBAS (Surfactants) SM 5540 C Aqueous 250mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Nitrogen, Ammonia SM 4500-NH3 G Aqueous 4
00mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Nitrogen, Nitrate SM 4500-NO3 F EPA 300.0 Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Nitrogen, Nitrate (Chlorinated Drinking Water) SM 4500-NO3 F EPA 300.0 Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 14 Days Nitrogen, Nitrite SM 4500-NO3 F EPA 300.0 Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Nitrogen, Nitrate plus Nitrate SM 4500-NO3 F Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl (TKN) EPA 351.2 Aqueous 500mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Odor SM 2150 B Aqueous 200mL Glass Bottle Only Cool to 4°C3 24 Hours Oil and Grease, Gravimetric SM 5520 B EPA 1664 EPA 9070 Aqueous 1L 1 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 H2SO4 to pH <213
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Organic Carbon, Total (TOC) SM 5310 B EPA 9060 Aqueous 25mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Oxygen, Dissolved SM 4500-O G Aqueous 300mL Glass Bottle Only None Analyze Immediately pH SM 4500-H+ B EPA 9040B Aqueous 25mL Plastic or Glass Bottle None Analyze Immediately Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Total (TPH-IR) SM 5520 CF Aqueous 1L 1 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 H2SO4 to pH <213
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Phenolics, Total EPA 420.2 EPA 9066 Aqueous 500mL 1 x 1L Amber Glass Bottle w/teflon liner17 H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Phosphate, Ortho SM 4500-P F Aqueous 50mL Glass Bottle Only Filter (0.45 µm)
Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Phosphorus, Total SM 4500-P F Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Phosphorus, Total (Low-level 0.005 mg/L) SM 4500-P E Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle H2SO4 to pH <2
Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Solids, Settleable (SS) SM 2540 F Aqueous 1L Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours Solids, Total (TS) SM 2540 B Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Solids, Total Dissolved (TDS) SM 2540 C Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Solids, Total Suspended (TSS) SM 2540 D Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Solids, Total Volatile (TVS) SM 2540 E Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Solids, Volatile Suspended (VSS) SM 2540 E Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Solids, Volatile Dissolved (VDS) EPA 2540 E Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Specific Conductance SM 2510B EPA 9050A Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Sulfate SM 4500-SO4 F EPA 300.0 EPA 9056 Aqueous 50mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 28 Days Sulfide SM 4500-S2 D Aqueous 500mL Plastic or Glass Bottle NaOH to pH >9 2mL Zinc Acetate
Cool to 4°C3 7 Days Turbidity SM 2130 D Aqueous 100mL Plastic or Glass Bottle Cool to 4°C3 48 Hours
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Microbiological Analyses
Parameter Method Matrix Minimum Qty.1 Recommended Containers(s)2 Required Preservation Holding Time8 Wastewater Total Coliform (Membrane Filtration) SM 9222 B Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 6 Hours Wastewater Fecal Coliform (Membrane Filtration) SM 9222 D Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 6 Hours Drinking Water Total Coliform (Membrane Filtration) SM 9222 B Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 30 Hours Drinking Water Total Coliform (Colilert) SM 9223 B Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 30 Hours Drinking Water Fecal Coliform (Membrane Filtration) SM 9222 D Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 30 Hours Drinking Water E. Coli SM 9222 SM 9223 Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 30 Hours Heterotrophic Plate Count (Standard Plate Count) SM 9215 Aqueous 100mL Sterilized Bottle Cool to 4°C3
Remove Chlorine7 30 Hours
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Sampling Notes
For some analyses, Groundwater Analytical recommends specific types and numbers of containers (e.g., an Aqueous Volatile Organic sample requires 3 x 40mL Glass Vials w/teflon septum caps). In such cases, the recommended container(s) allow for an adequate margin of error.
For other analyses, Groundwater Analytical only recommends a general type of container (e.g., a Solid Semivolatile Organic sample requires a Glass Jar w/teflon liner). In such cases, it is strongly recommended that twice the minimum quantity of sample material be collected in the recommended type of container.
For solid samples, in addition to the minimum quantities required for individual analyses, each sample also requires 20g of sample material for a percent solids (or percent moisture) determination. Example: A soil sample collected for TPH-IR (30g), 8 RCRA Metals (2.6g) and PCBs (30g) requires a minimum of 62.6g of material for the desired analyses, and 20g of material for percent solids (or percent moisture), for a total required minimum of 82.6g of material. It is then recommended that this minimum be doubled, and at least 165.2g of sample material be collected in a Glass Jar w/teflon liner.
For solid samples, all minimum quantities are calculated net of all foreign objects, such as sticks, leaves and rocks.
However, if field filtration is not possible, samples should be cooled at 4°C and shipped to the laboratory for filtration and preservation. Filtration must be done as soon as practical after collection. Groundwater Analytical recommends that filtration be done within 24 hours of collection. If samples are not going to be field filtered, do not preserve samples with Nitric Acid (HNO3).
Samples for TCLP Metals analysis must be leached within 28 days of collection, if Mercury is being analyzed. The leachate must then be analyzed within 28 days of leaching. If Mercury is not being analyzed, then samples for TCLP Metals must be leached within 180 days of collection, and the leachate analyzed within 180 days of leaching.
Samples for TCLP Semivolatile Organics, TCLP Pesticides, and TCLP Herbicides analyses must be leached within 14 days of collection. The leachate must then be extracted within 7 days of leaching. The extract must then be analyzed within 40 days of extraction.
