Web Release Date: October 26,
Quantitative Determination of
1,4-Dioxane and Tetrahydrofuran in
Groundwater by Solid Phase
Extraction GC/MS/MS
and
Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Jose, California 95118, and Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Received for review June 27, 2006
Revised manuscript received August 23, 2006
Accepted August 30, 2006
Abstract:
Groundwater contamination by cyclic ethers, 1,4-dioxane
(dioxane), a probable human carcinogen, and tetrahydrofuran
(THF), a co-contaminant at many chlorinated solvent
release sites, are a growing concern. Cyclic ethers are
readily transported in groundwater, yet little is known about
their fate in environmental systems. High water solubility
coupled with low Henry's law constants and octanol-water
partition coefficients make their removal from groundwater
problematic for both remedial and analytical purposes.
A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method based on activated
carbon disks was developed for the quantitative deter
mination of dioxane and THF. The method requires 80 mL
samples and a total of 1.2 mL of solvent (acetone). The
number of steps is minimized due to the "in-vial" elution
of the disks. Average recoveries for dioxane and THF were
98% and 95%, respectively, with precision, as indicated
by the relative standard deviation of <2% to 6%. The method
quantitation limits are 0.31 
g/L for dioxane and 3.1 g/L
for THF. The method was demonstrated by analyzing
groundwater samples for dioxane and THF collected during
a single sampling campaign at a TCA-impacted site.
Dioxane concentrations and areal extent of dioxane in
groundwater were greater than those of either TCA or THF.
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