Acrylamide, Acrylonitrile and Acrolein EPA 8316

Acrylamide, acrolein, and acrylonitrile are common monomers used in polyacrylamide (used in contact lenses), ABS rubber, and other acrylic polymers.  EPA  Method 8316 can be used to test water samples or leachates for acrylamide, acrylonitrile, and acrolein.  The method uses reverse phase HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) with a C18 column, 

While the sensitivity of this method is good, the specificity of the method is not.  This method should only be used for relatively clean water samples, because the method is subject to interferences is due to the short wavelength chosen for the UV detector.  Many organic compounds absorb in the region of 195-200 nm.  Detection limits for this method are approximately 10-30 ug/L.

EPA 8315 and 8260

Alternative test methods which offer better specificity (fewer interferences) are EPA 8315 for acrolein using DNPH derivatives and HPLC,  acrolein and acrylonitrile using purge and trap GC (EPA 8030) or GCMS (EPA 8260 or 524), and EPA 8032 for acrylamide using bromination followed by GC-ECD.  These alternatives are very sensitive methods with detection limits in the ug/L range.  The alternatives can all be applied to much more

WCAS offers EPA 8316 as well as some of these alternatives.  Contact us if you need help in choosing the best alternative for your environmental testing. For a quotation...

 For more information on environmental and health hazards of acrolein, acrylonitrile, and acrylamide, click on 8316.