Drinking Water Analysis by EPA 515.4

Summary

EPA 515.4 is used to determine the concentrations of Chlorinated Acid Herbicides in drinking water.

Chlorinated Acid Herbicides are synthetic organic compounds controlled in drinking water under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

Technique

EPA 515.4 is performed using liquid-liquid microextraction, derivitization, and gas chromatography/electron capture dectector (GC/ECD) analysis.

Holding Time

Samples have a 14-day holding time. Samples not extracted within this period must be discarded and replaced. Extracts may be stored in tightly capped vials at ≤0°C for up to 21 days.

Container and Preservative

Collect all samples in 250-mL amber glass bottles which contain 12.5 mg of sodium sulfite crystals. This dechlorinating agent must be added to each sample to avoid the possibility of reactions that may occur between residual chlorine and indeterminate contaminants, yielding compounds that may subsequently interfere with the analysis.

Shipping/Transport Instructions

Samples must be chilled to >0°C to ≤10°C within the first 48 hours after collection and kept at >0°C to ≤6°C after that. Field samples that will not be received at the laboratory on the day of collection must be packaged for shipment with sufficient ice to ensure that they will be >0°C to ≤6 or 10°C upon arrival at the laboratory, depending on arrival time.

Analytes and Reporting Limits

Analytes included on our State of Michigan Drinking Water Certification are designated as such.

  Michigan Certified

  Michigan does not offer certification

  Please request additional information on test

Analyte	CAS Number	Reporting Limit	MI Cert
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid	94-75-7	2.0 μg/L
Dalapon	75-99-0	1.0 μg/L
Dicamba	1918-00-9	2.0 μg/L
Dinoseb	88-85-7	1.0 μg/L
Pentachlorophenol	87-86-5	0.04 μg/L
Picloram	1918-02-1	1.0 μg/L
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)	93-72-1	0.2 μg/L