DEQ Laboratory Analytic Methods 

Individual analytical methods are employed, developed, reviewed, and maintained by each section.

• Northwest Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon
  Discussion of overall procedure
   
• Northwest Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon PDF
  Capillary GC/FID Hydrocarbon Product Identification
   
• Northwest Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Gx PDF
  Capillary GC/PID-FID analysis of Gasoline Range Organics
   
• Northwest Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Dx PDF
  Capillary GC/FID analysis of Diesel Range Organics
   
• Ion Chromatography Analysis of Ambient Air Particulate Matter PDF
  Description: This method covers the determination of selected anions and cations in air particulate collected on the surfaces of filters. The ions that are determined may include sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, nitrate and sulfate. The method includes procedures for (1) pre-sampling filter preparation, (2) extraction, (3) standards preparation, (4) solution analysis by IC, and (5) results calculations. The samples are collected using Oregon MV samplers, Survey samplers, R&P Partisol samplers, or MetOne SASS Speciation samplers. A modeling program, CMB (or Chemical Mass Balance), utilizes some of the data. Another use of the data includes particulate characterization for the PM2.5 Speciation program.
   
• Elemental Analysis of Air Particulate by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) PDF
  Description: This method describes the quantitative determination of elements in ambient air particulate collected on Teflon membrane filters. The elements that are determined by this method include many of the elements with atomic numbers 11 (Na) through 82 (Pb). (Note: both Na and Mg are reported as estimates due to several factors which make reported low atomic numbers difficult--including lack of sensitivity, difficulty correcting for interelement interferences, high background, difficulty in modeling background, and large particulate size correction factors.) The method assumes that the particulate is collected as a surface deposit on top of the filter media, that the particulate loading level is less than approximately 100 ug/cm2, and that the filter matrix is relatively uncontaminated with elements over Z=9. Quantitation is improved if the size and the composition of the particles are known, but this is not possible for unknown samples. The samples are collected using Oregon MV samplers, Survey samplers, R&P Partisol samplers, and MetOne Speciation samplers. A modeling program, CMB (or Chemical Mass Balance), utilizes some of the data. Other uses of the data include particulate characterization for the Air Toxics and PM2.5 Speciation programs.
   
• Speciation Sampling Canister Processing PDF
  Description: This method describes the cleaning, loading, and unloading of the MetOne SASS speciation sampler canisters. At this time, these canisters are used only in the collecting of ambient air particulate matter for the PM2.5 Speciation program. Sampling and analysis procedures are found in other SOPs. The results from the Speciation program are used in modeling, SIP development, and air toxics assessment. The canisters that DEQ prepares and analyze are not used at sites that are part of the National Trends Network. We have elected to have the work for the National Trends Network performed by the EPA contract lab, in the interest of consistency.
   
• Gravimetric Analysis of Particulate Collected with R&P Partisol Samplers and MetOne SASS Samplers PDF
  Description: This method describes the gravimetric analysis of ambient air particulate samples collected on 47mm Teflon filters. This method is specifically applicable to samples collected using either an R&P Partisol sampler or a MetOne SASS sampler. The R&P Partisol sampler has been used as the Federal Reference Method (FRM) sampler for the PM2.5 program, although it can also be used for PM10 sampling.. The MetOne SASS sampler has been used for the Speciation program within the PM2.5 program. This procedure also describes the calculation of the particulate mass per volume of sampled air, using both the laboratory gravimetric data and the field sampling data. Although the sampling SOPs are described else where, the laboratory personnel must be familiar with the sampling requirements. The method complies with the national ambient air quality standards referred to as PM2.5, as described in Appendix L of 40 CFR, Part 50.

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