4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This is a performance-based method, and modifications
are allowed to improve performance.
4.2 For DPGBE and EGBE analysis, samples are shipped to
the lab between 0 °C and 6 °C and analyzed within 5 days of
collection. The DOW MSDS sheet on DOWANOL*DPNB
glycol ether (DPGBE) (Issue Date: 06/18/2010) lists that the
material is readily biodegradable. The Organisation for Eco-
nomic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) 302B Test lists
96 % biodegradation in 28 days.
4.3 In the lab, the entire collected 20 mL sample is spiked
with surrogate and brought to a volume of 25 mL with
acetonitrile. This prepared sample is then filtered using a
syringe driven filter unit, and analyzed by LC/MS/MS. If
visible oil is present, the prepared sample is allowed to settle
resulting in an oil layer at the top of the 25 mL solution. A
portion of the aqueous (bottom) layer is filtered, leaving the oil
layer behind, through a syringe driven filter assembly and
analyzed by LC/MS/MS.
4.4 DPGBE, EGBE, and surrogate are identified by reten-
tion time and one SRM transition. The target analytes and
surrogate are quantitated using the SRM transitions utilizing an
external calibration. The final report issued for each sample
lists the concentration of DPGBE, EGBE, and the surrogate
recovery.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 DPGBE and EGBE have a variety of residential and
industrial applications such as cleaning formulations, surface
coatings, inks, and cosmetics. These analytes may be released
into the environment at levels that may be harmful to aquatic
life.
5.2 This test method has been investigated for use with
reagent and sea water.
6. Interferences
6.1 Method interferences may be caused by contaminants in
solvents, reagents, glassware, and other apparatus producing
discrete artifacts or elevated baselines. All of these materials
are demonstrated to be free from interferences by analyzing
laboratory reagent blanks under the same conditions as
samples.
6.2 All glassware is washed in hot water with detergent and
rinsed in hot water followed by distilled water. Detergents
containing DPGBE or EGBE must not be used. The glassware
is then dried and heated in an oven at 250 °C for 15 min to
30 min. All glassware is subsequently cleaned with acetone
followed by methanol.
6.3 All reagents and solvents should be pesticide residue
purity or higher to minimize interference problems.
6.4 Matrix interferences may be caused by contaminants in
the sample. The extent of matrix interferences can vary
considerably from sample source depending on variations of
the sample matrix.
7. Apparatus
7.1 LC/MS/MS System:
7.1.1 Liquid Chromatography System—A complete LC sys-
tem is needed in order to analyze samples.
4
Any system that is
capable of performing at the flows, pressures, controlled
temperatures, sample volumes, and requirements of the stan-
dard may be used.
7.1.2 Analytical Column—Waters XBridge,
5
2.1 × 150 mm,
3.5 µm particle size was used to develop this test method. Any
column that achieves baseline resolution of these analytes may
be used. Baseline resolution simplifies data analysis and can
reduce the chance of ion suppression, leading to higher limits
of detection. The retention times and order of elution may
change depending on the column used and need to be moni-
tored.
7.1.3 Tandem Mass Spectrometer System—A MS/MS sys-
tem capable of SRM analysis.
6
Any system that is capable of
performing at the requirements in this procedure may be used.
7.2 Filtration Device:
7.2.1 Hypodermic Syringe—A lock-tip glass syringe ca-
pable of holding a Millex HV Syringe Driven Filter Unit PVDF
0.22 µm,
7,8
or similar, may be used.
7.2.1.1 A 25 mL lock-tip glass syringe size was used in this
test method.
7.2.2 Filter—Millex HV Syringe Driven Filter Unit PVDF
0.22 µm, or similar, may be used.
8. Reagents and Materials
8.1 Purity of Reagents—High Performance Liquid Chroma-
tography (HPLC) pesticide residue analysis and spectropho-
tometry grade chemicals shall be used in all tests. Unless
indicated otherwise, it is intended that all reagents shall
conform to the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the
American Chemical Society.
9
Other reagent grades may be
4
A Waters Alliance High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) System,
a trademark of the Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, was used to develop this test
method. All parameters in this test method are based on this system and may vary
depending on your instrument.
5
The Waters XBridge is a trademark of the Waters Corporation, Milford, MA.
6
A Waters Quattro micro API tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer, a trade-
mark of the Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, was used to develop this test method.
All parameters in this test method are based on this system and may vary depending
on your instrument.
7
The sole source of supply of the Millex HV Syringe Driven Filter Unit PVDF
0.45 µm known to the committee at this time is Millipore Corporation, Catalog #
SLHV033NS. If you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this
information to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive
careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee,
1
which
you may attend.
8
Millex is a trademark of Merck KGAA, Darmstadt, Germany.
9
ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by the American Chemical
Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.
TABLE 1 Detection Verification Level (DVL) and Reporting Range
Analyte DVL
(µg/L)
Reporting Range
(µg/L)
DPGBE 0.2 1–10
EGBE 25 125–1250
D7731 − 17 (2024)
2