Environmental sample extraction: Overcome limitations of EPA method 3546

Many laboratories using EPA method 3546 for the solvent extraction of environmental samples are aware of the bottleneck of sample throughput plus sample weight limitations. 

Traditional extraction of contaminants such as PCBs, semivolatile organic compounds, and PAHs use lengthy methods that also require large volumes of solvents.  A recent development - microwave assisted extraction (MAE) overcomes these limitations, resulting in rapid sample preparation with reduced amounts of solvents while working at higher temperatures and pressures.

The Milestone Ethos X microwave extraction system from Analytix can extract organic target compounds from soils in full compliance with EPA 3546 (100-115°C and 50-150 psi). The system is capable of processing up to 24 samples and 30 g of sample per vessel simultaneously thereby improving the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for analysis. This results in the capacity to extract over 200 samples in an 8-hour workday and the potential problems of contamination, memory effects, and cleaning are eliminated due to the use of disposable glass vials.

The handling is very easy, the sample is weighed directly into the vial, hexane/acetone or dichloromethane/acetone (1:1) is added, and the vessel is loaded into the 24 place FastEX that has contactless temperature control in all positions. After 10–20 min of microwave heating, the sample is ready to be filtered and analysed by GC or GCMS.

The use of disposable glass vials coupled with speed of extraction and reduced solvent consumption makes the Ethos X a unique and innovative solution for the extraction of contaminants from soils, providing unmatched ease of use and low running costs.

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