Simplified and Cost-effective Approaches for the Determination of Volatile Organics in Water Using GC-MS with Static Headspace and In-tube Extraction Dynamic Headspace Coupled to Hydrogen Carrier Gas

Automation & Innovation for Sample Preparation
Poster Presentation

Presented by A. Fornadel
Prepared by A. Ladak1, D. Roberts2
1 - Thermo Fisher Scientific, TFS, Stafford House, Boundary Park, Hemel Hempsted, HP2 7GE, United Kingdom
2 - Thermo Scientific, Stafford House,, 1 Boundary Park,, Hemel Hempstead, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7GE, United Kingdom


Contact Information: [email protected]; +447393145757

ABSTRACT

In this poster the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) utilizing hydrogen carrier gas with both static headspace (SHS) and In-Tube Extraction Dynamic Headspace (ITEX-DHS) sampling techniques was investigated. The work addresses the need for efficient extraction and pre-concentration of VOCs, which are often present at trace levels in water supplies due to contamination from spills or underground leaks.
The instrumentation used was a gas chromatograph coupled with a single quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and an advanced autosampler. Both SHS and ITEX-DHS techniques, which employ a syringe-based approach, were evaluated for their robustness and ease of use compared to traditional purge and trap (P&T) methods. Hydrogen was selected as the carrier gas due to its cost-effectiveness, renewability, and ability to provide high optimal linear velocity, resulting in shorter analysis times and increased productivity. However, the potential drawbacks of using hydrogen, such as sensitivity issues and possible chemical reactions in the inlet, were also considered.
The results demonstrated that both SHS and ITEX-DHS techniques achieved sensitive detection of VOCs with method detection limits (MDLs) below 1.4 µg/L and coefficients of determination (R²) greater than 0.990. The reliability of the sampling workflows was confirmed with absolute peak area repeatability (RSD) below 20% over multiple injections of matrix-matched standards. In conclusion, the study shows that SHS and ITEX-DHS sampling techniques, combined with hydrogen carrier gas, offer a reliable and efficient solution for the analysis of VOCs in drinking water. These methods ensure compliance with current EU regulations and maintain spectral fidelity with commercial libraries.