EPA TO-14 Hydrocarbons by Cryogenic Concentration
EPA TO-14/TO-14A is a VOC method that describes the use of GC/MS, GC/FID, and GC/ECD for the analysis of hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Currently most of the GC/MS analysis are done using TO-15. EAS used the TO-14 method for GC/FID analysis of hydrocarbons. The method can be used to do a Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis method is used for the analysis of hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as methanol and MTBE, in ambient air and gas samples. A dedicated gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) is used. The FID provides maximum sensitivity for hydrocarbons and has a selective response to carbon atoms. This method is the same as EPA TO-3 that is commonly specified by other labs.
The method is used for photochemical assessment modeling (PAMS) analysis of air samples based on the guidelines in the EPA document "Technical Assistance Document For Sampling and Analysis of Ozone Precursors", October 1991, EPA/600-8-91/215 hereafter called the Technical Assistance Document.
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).