Interim method for determination of volatile organic compounds in hazardous wastes.

An analytical protocol is presented for the determination of volatile organic compounds in hazardous wastes that are amenable to the purge-and-trap method. The protocol features a tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme) extraction of the liquid or solid waste, addition of an aliquot of the tetraglyme waste to water, and purging of the tetraglyme-water mixture with subsequent gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis. The size of the tetraglyme aliquot is determined by gas chromatographic screening of a hexadecane waste extract. Quality assurance/quality control procedures are included within the analytical protocol. Spike extraction recoveries of industrial wastes obtained by following this protocol are given.