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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Recommendations for holding times of environmental samples

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6975841

Experiments have been conducted for the purpose of establishing acceptable minimum holding times for soil and water samples. Analytes of interest have been volatile organics, pesticides, and explosives. The pesticides and explosives represent subclasses of semivolatile organics. Several soils and several water samples have been used in this investigation. The holding times for volatile organics in water samples are dependent on the objectives of the analysis. Aromatics and some haloethanes are stable in water for limited times, approximately 14 days is the recommended maximum. However, the degradation of these compounds can be eliminated or greatly reduced by preservation with acid. Several acids are recommended, including HCl, ascorbic acid, and sodium hydrogen sulfate. For analyses where only certain volatiles are to be considered, as in the case of RCRA monitoring, individual holding times can be recommended. For many of these volatiles, holding times can be recommended as long as one year, even without preservation.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6975841
Report Number(s):
CONF-880768-2; ON: DE88011831
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English