Comparison of European and American techniques for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in environmental matrices.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated methods for analysis of volatile organic compounds by purge and trap, or dynamic headspace, gas chromatography. In western Europe, where environmental analyses are less heavily regulated, static headspace is widely used. In this paper, these two approaches are compared and contrasted for use with different environmental matrices. The theoretical basis and state of application for purge and trap and headspace analysis are discussed, and data are presented on the accuracy and precision of both approaches. Data are reported on the use of headspace analysis for different aqueous matrix types with different sample preparation procedures. A new method for direct headspace analysis of soil samples is presented and compared with the EPA-approved purge and trap method.