SPME-GC-MS Analysis of VOCs and Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water

Researchers from Waterloo University (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) developed a fast method for extracting and analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and disinfection by-products in drinking water. The method, which comprised headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) followed by gas chromatography (GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection (TOF MS), provided a total run time of 45 s under optimum conditions. The samples included purgeable compounds listed in EPA Method 624. They also compared the results obtained using the SPME method to those obtained with a liquid?liquid extraction method.