EPA TO-13 PAH and Semi-volatile Organic Compounds by GC/MS
The EPA TO-13 is an ambient air method for collecting PAH compounds. The method can also used for other semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC). The method calls for HPLC or FID detection with confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). At EAS we only do the GS/MS analysis since most SVOC samples have a large number of hydrocarbons that make identification by the other methods difficult. If low detection limits are needed then the TO-13 SIM method can be used.
Word about Method Detection Limits (MDL)
Defining Detection Limits
Detection Limits are used to specify the lowest concentration of a compound that can be measured reliably by the analytical method. There are several definitions for the detection limits used by laboratories so it is important to understand the differences, so that the objectives of your project are met. On this web site, the term detection limit is used as a general term to collectively describe the more specific terms such as the Method Detection Limit (MDL), Lower Quantitation Limit (LQL), Reporting Limit (RL), and Method Reporting Limit (MRL), and Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL).