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Region 9 Laboratory SOP 260
Gel-Permeation Chromatography (GPC) Clean-up
Summary
This SOP describes the procedures used to cleanup extracts from soils, sediments, sludges and solid wastes containing semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC'S) and organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analytes using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). This SOP is based on procedures in SW-846 Method 3640A, Gel-Permeation Cleanup, Revision 1, September 1994 and concentration techniques described in SW-846 Method 3520C, Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction, Revision 3, December 1996.
Gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) is a size exclusion cleanup procedure using organic solvents and hydrophobic gels in the separation of synthetic macromolecules. It is capable of separating high molecular weight, high boiling material from sample analytes. The removal of this high molecular weight, high boiling material may reduce contamination of injection ports and column heads, prolong column life, stabilize the instrument, and reduce column reactivity.
A measured volume of aliquot, approximately 10 mL, is passed through the GPC column, which is packed with a preswelled adsorbent. Methylene chloride is used to elute the analytes, and the product is then concentrated. The extract is now ready for further cleanup, if necessary, solvent exchange, or concentration to its final volume, following the instructions in Region 9 Laboratory (Reg. 9 Lab.) SOP #290, Extraction of Soil Samples Using Pressurized Fluid Extraction.