Preparation and analysis of a river sediment Standard Reference Material for the determination of trace organic constituents

Abstract

A river sediment Standard Reference Material (SRM) has been prepared and analyzed for determination of the concentrations of trace organic constituents. SRM 1939, “Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in River Sediment A”, has been certified for the concentrations of three PCB congeners using the results obtained from capillary column gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and from multidimensional (dual column) capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (MCGC-MSD). For SRM certification, two independent analytical procedures are usually required. If only one analytical technique is used or if the procedures are not independent, then the concentrations are reported as “noncertified or informational” values rather than “certified” values. Noncertified values for 14 additional PCB congeners and five chlorinated pesticides, determined by GC-ECD, are also reported as well as noncertified concentrations for five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), determined using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MSD). SRM 1939 complements SRM 1941, “Organics in Marine Sediment”, since both materials have 12 PCB congeners, five PAHs and five chlorinated pesticides in common. However, the concentrations differ by an order of magnitude for PAHs, and from one to over two orders of magnitude for the PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides.