EPA/540/R-95/528

The Field Analytical Screening Program (FASP) pentachlorophenol (PCP) method uses a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a megabore capillary column and flame ionization detector (FID) and electron capture detector (ECD) to identify and quantify PCP. The FASP PCP method is designed to provide quick, accurate results in the field for PCP concentrations in soil and water. The method can also detect and quantify other phenols. The FASP PCP method was developed by EPA and is an abbreviated, modified version of other EPA-approved methods. The method is specific to PCP, but it is susceptible to interferences such as diesel fuel or other PCP carrier solvents. A rigorous cleanup step may be required to minimize the effects of interferences. Instrumentation and equipment required for the FASP PCP method are not highly portable; however, a trailer-mounted, mobile laboratory can be used to employ the method. The detection limit for the soil samples is 0.8 mg/kg; for water samples it is 200 µg/L using FID and 0.5 µg/L using ECD. The method was demonstrated at EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory. The average number of samples analyzed during a 10-hour day during the demonstration was 14.