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Analytical Chemistry
ERG is equipped to extract and analyze samples collected from air, water, or
solid media for a full range of environmental contaminants. We operate and maintain
a fully accredited laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, which
features state-of-the-art equipment for both wet chemistry and instrumental
analysis. Separate laboratories are available for sample digestion/preparation,
GC/MS, GC/multidetector, HPLC, and a variety of specialized services, including
preparation of high-purity sampling media and audit materials.
Applications
- Site remediation and restoration
- Munitions disposal/decontamination
- Compliance testing
- Ambient air monitoring
- Industrial hygiene monitoring
- Risk assessment
- Methods development and validation
- Custom chemistry
- Quality assurance and audits
Pollutants
- Volatile organic compounds (EPA Methods 8260, 5030, 24, 624/1624, TO-1,
TO-15)
- Semivolatile organic compounds (EPA Methods 8270, 8310, 625/1625, TO-13A)
- Isocyanates (EPA Method 207)
- Aldehydes/ketones (EPA Method 0011)
- Acetonitrile
- Cyanides (HCN/CN2)
- Phenols/cresols
- Trace metals
Technologies
- Gas chromatography (ECD, FID, PID, and combination detectors)
- Liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Ion chromatography
- Mass spectroscopy (GC/MS)
- Purge and trap
- Dynamic spiking
Sample Projects
Open Burn/Open Detonation and Energetics: For the
Department of Defense, ERG provided sampling media and analysis support for
a large munitions and energetics disposal and decontamination program. We developed
and employed a novel combination of sample preparation from EPA Method 8330
and analysis from EPA Method 8095 (GC/ECD) to get the highest recovery and lowest
detection limits currently achievable.
Development of EPA Reference Methods: ERG developed
and validated several of the environmental measurement methods in wide commercial
use today. We performed extensive laboratory studies to determine the effectiveness
of alternative sorbents for use in capturing volatile organic compounds, culminating
with the publication of EPA Reference Methods 0030 and 0031 (VOST). ERG also
developed and validated current methods for sampling and analyzing isocyanates,
acetonitrile, and aldehydes and ketones.
Ambient Air Quality Analysis: As part of EPA's
urban air toxics measurement program (UATMP), ERG has analyzed more than 20,000
air samples for the presence of numerous trace organic species following EPA
Methods TO-11A, TO-13A, TO-14, TO-15, and TO-17. We pioneered the development
and application of a concurrent analytical method for volatile toxic and speciated
hydrocarbon analysis from SUMMA®-passivated stainless-steel canisters (concurrent
TO-15A and SNMOC).
Method Validation: To measure the precision and
accuracy of candidate air sampling systems, ERG designed, built, and evaluated
an automated gaseous and liquid dynamic spiking system. The system was used
to refine and expand EPA Method 301.
Trace Organics Detection and Analysis: ERG performed
complete organic characterization of samples taken from a 10-site
ambient network over a 1-year period to characterize emissions from
industrial boilers and furnaces co-burning hazardous wastes. Analysis
was performed on samples collected in Summa®-polished canisters
for volatile organic compounds, on XAD-2® resin for semivolatile
organics, on high-volume PUF samples for dioxins and furans, and
on filters for particulate and trace metals. ERG assessed the Total
Organic Emissions (TOE) mass in these ambient air samples against
the compound- specific signature to provide data used to evaluate
the uncertainty in site-specific risk models.
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