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Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs)

Detection and Site Characterization

Halogenated Alkanes

1,2-Dichloropropane

1,2-Dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) is a volatile halogenated organic and as such is subject to most of the standard characterization and analytical techniques used on this class of chemicals. Methods such as vertical profiling, membrane interface probe, and standard GC/MS are discussed in the main section for DNAPLs detection and site characterization.

Diffusion Samplers

While diffusion samplers have been used mostly for sampling chlorinated ethenes and BTEX, they also have worked for sampling 1,2-DCP (ITRC 2004).

Laboratory Methods

Analysis of 1,2-DCP can be performed using standard analyses, such as SW-846 methods 8021b, 8260b, and 8260c. In California, the public health goal for 1,2-DCP is 0.5 µg/L. Special handling will be required to reach this detection limit with the above methods.

Field Screening Methods

No screening methods were found specific to 1,2-DCP.

If screening using a photoionization detector, the photoionization potential for 1,2-DCP is 10.87 eV, so an 11.7 eV lamp is required (EPA 1994).

Note that California's public health goal of 0.5 µg/L for 1,2-DCP might not be obtainable with field screening instrumentation.

References

Standard Operating Procedure # 2114: Photoionization Detector HNU
U.S. EPA, Emergency Response Team, 16 pp, 1994

This document contains an extensive list of chemicals with their photoionization potentials.

Technical and Regulatory Guidance for Using Polyethylene Diffusion Bag Samplers to Monitor Volatile Organic Compounds in Groundwater
Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), DSP-3, 78 pp, 2004