Environmental

3 min 04.07.2025

Trace-Level VOCs in Water

The determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water matrices is crucial due to their potential impact on public health. Regulatory agencies, including the European Environmental Agency (EEA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), have established stringent limits for VOCs in drinking water. Traditional headspace analysis, a widely employed technique for VOC measurement in water, can present challenges in achieving adequate sensitivity and effective water vapor management.

This new application note, "Trace-level Volatile Organic Pollutants in Water: A Deep Dive with Headspace-Trap GC/MS," details a methodology employing the PAL3-Centri® automated sampling and concentration system to address these limitations. The system facilitates enhanced sensitivity, enabling quantitation of target analytes at low parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels, with exceptional linearity and precision. The application note presents the analysis of a 72-component standard mix and a real tap water sample, demonstrating the method's capability to quantify target analytes at trace concentrations while effectively managing interferences.

Download the App Note for a comprehensive examination of trace-level VOC analysis with enhanced accuracy and reliability.

Learn more about the trap technology by visiting our collaboration partner: Markes International.

Hagen Gegner

Scientific Communications Specialist

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A minimalistic and soft colored water sample waiting for analysis via Headspace - Trap GC/MS

Meeting Water Quality Challenges with Advanced VOC Analysis

Traditional headspace analysis, while valuable, can be constrained by sensitivity limitations, potential peak shape distortion, and challenges in controlling water vapor, which can interfere with chromatographic performance. The PAL3-Centri® system offers a solution through automated sampling and concentration, enhancing sensitivity and providing improved water management. This methodology enables the quantitation of target analytes at trace concentrations, specifically, low parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels. The application note provides a detailed examination of the analysis of a 72-component standard mix and a real tap water sample, demonstrating excellent linearity, recovery, repeatability, and detection limits that surpass regulatory requirements for water quality.

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A small clamped GC/MS vial filled with water waiting for analysis on the PAL3-Centri system

Significance and Implications

The accurate and reliable analysis of VOCs in water is critical for environmental monitoring, assessing water treatment efficacy, and safeguarding public health. The PAL3-Centri® system contributes to advancing analytical capabilities by enabling the sensitive and precise quantitation of VOCs at trace levels. Automated solutions, such as the PAL3-Centri®, play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, productivity, and data quality within analytical workflows. These advancements have broad implications for various fields, including environmental science, food safety, and potentially clinical diagnostics.

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Application Notes

High-throughput Analysis of 1,4-Dioxane in Drinking Water using SPME Arrow–Trap with Multi-Step Enrichment

This application note showcases Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) Arrow-trap technology, combined with multi-step enrichment (MSE) on the PAL3-Centri® platform and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), to analyze 1,4-dioxane in water samples. The method successfully detects 1,4-dioxane at levels as low as 0.01 μg/L (10 ppt), surpassing the detection limits required by German REACH and US EPA regulations.

Application Notes

Drinking Water Quality Control - Screening for 57 Odorous Substances using SPME Arrow

This article describes the routine screening method for 57 odorous compounds in drinking water. It uses the versatile SPME ARROW extraction on a PAL RTC System to screen and quantify odorous substances in drinking water.

Determination of pharmaceuticals in water and surface water using online SPE coupled to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Application Notes

Determination of pharmaceuticals in water and surface water using online SPE coupled to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Automated enrichment and clean-up prior to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis using online SPE is demonstrated.

Application Notes

Determination of Odor Compounds in Water by SPME Arrow Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

The described SPME Arrow GC/MS method for off-flavors is not only simple in operation and automated, but also fast and accurate, and satisfies completely the hygienic test requirements of drinking water and water source control in the China hygienic standard of drinking water (GB5749-2006).

Application Notes

Determination of iodoform in drinking water by PAL SPME Arrow and GC/MS

Here we describe the quantitative analysis of iodoform in tap water by PAL SPME Arrow extraction combined with GC/MS. Immersion as well as headspace SPME has been performed on two different fiber types. The PAL SPME Arrow is a new technology for microextraction, combining trace level sensitivity with high mechanical robustness.

Application Notes

Determination of C2-C12 aldehydes in water by SPME Arrow on-fiber derivatization and GC/MS

The method employing a SPME Arrow allows for the quantitation of water samples down to 50 ng/l for most of the described aldehydes with good precision.
A previous publication applying traditional standard SPME fibers and GC/MS achieved sensitivities down to 120-340 ng/l in spiked samples for C1, C3-C5

Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Durian by Static Headspace and ITEX-DHS GC-MS

Application Notes

Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Durian by Static Headspace and ITEX-DHS GC-MS

The distinctive onion and fruity odorous compounds were detected by both static headspace and ITEX-DHS techniques.