Different petroleum-based products are typically tested for their volatile organic compounds. Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes are a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly found in gasoline, diesel, and certain industrial solvents. The testing is most commonly used in the Oil and Petroleum Industry. BTEX testing is important because of the adverse effects these chemicals can have on the environment and humans.
Testing Methods
BTEX can be performed in a variety of different environmental matrices, including air, water, and soil. After the air, water, or soil samples are collected, the BTEX compounds need to be extracted using one of many different extraction techniques. For air samples, the BTEX compounds are extracted using thermal desorption or solvent extraction methods. For water and soil samples, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), or solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods are used.
After extraction by the various extraction methods, analysis is done by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, or flame ionization detector. Gas Chromatography separates the different compounds based on their chemical properties and elution times. Mass Spectrometry detects and measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions produced from the separated compounds. Flame Ionization Detection measures the concentration of carbon-containing compounds.
How Contract Laboratory Helps with BTEX Testing
Below are some examples of how Contract Laboratory helped with BTEX testing of air, water, and soil:
- Contract Laboratory needed for analysis of 100 airborne BTEX samples
- Contract Laboratory needed for BTEX active sampling analysis
- Contract Environmental Laboratory needed for speciated TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) testing in soil and groundwater samples
- Canada Contract Laboratory needed for the following ASTM analytical tests – GC30+ – Aromatics Content %/vol – Aniline (ASTM D611) – BTEX ppm – Boiling Point (ASTM D7169) – Heavy Metals (ASTM D02 / D8322) – Density (ASTM D1298) – Flash Point (ASTM D93) – Kinematic Vis (ASTM D7052) – Lubricity (Coefficients of Friction) (Bruker Test Method) – Pour Point (ASTM D5949) – Sulphur (ASTM D4294)
- North America Contract Oil Laboratory needed for the following analytical tests for a (bio)crude oil sample: hydrocarbon species (C10+ analysis. BTEX), H2S, Initial boiling point (D86), Flash Point (D93), Kinematic viscosity @ 40C, color and description of liquid, relative density.
Is your company in need of BTEX testing in air, water, or soil? Contract Laboratory can help! Simply, Submit a Laboratory Request for BTEX Testing.
