The technology, which consists of direct sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds in water, soil, gas and air, requires little if any sample preparation and yields results in three to five minutes. Compared to conventional approaches, the method saves time, money and allows more sites to be tested -- and ultimately decontaminated.

"EPA's official acceptance of this method should accelerate its adoption by the regulatory community," said Roger Jenkins of the Chemical Sciences Division. "Before that happened, there would have been only modest interest in using this procedure to support on-site characterization and remediation."

With direct sampling ion trap mass spectrometry, the person conducting the test introduces sample materials directly into an ion trap mass spectrometer through a simple interface. No chromatographic separation is required, and the response of the instrument is nearly instantaneous. EPA's new Method 8265, developed by ORNL, embodies this technique.

"The implication of the EPA's having made this direct sampling and analysis methodology an official method is that regulators are now much more likely to accept this new rapid method performed in the field as being 'just as good' as a standard fixed laboratory procedure," said Marcus Wise, a scientist in ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division and one of the developers of the instrument and methodology. "With the budget constraints, it has become increasingly important to develop and deploy innovative technologies for faster and less expensive approaches to restore the environment."

Tri-Corders Environmental of McLean, Va., has licensed the technology from ORNL and is building transp
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Contact: Ron Walli
wallira@ornl.gov
865-576-0226
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
19-Apr-2002