Halogenated Alkanes

Bromochloromethane

Bromochloromethane (BCM( is a volatile halogenated organic and as such is subject to most 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 chlorinated ethenes and BTEX, they may be appropriate for BCM (ITRC 2004).

Laboratory Methods

Analysis of BCM can be performed using standard analyses such as SW-846 methods 8021b, 8260b, 8260c, and 8261a.

Field Screening Methods

Given its Henry's Constant, BCM should be detectable using headspace analysis with a field GC. Standards should be run to verify detection limit requirements. The photoionization energy for BCM is 10.88 eV (HNU 1997). If a PID detector is used, then the lamp must be 11.7 eV.

GasTec makes a detection tube that will respond to BCM, but no BCM-specific detection equipment was found.

References

Photoionization Characteristics of Selected Compounds
HNU Systems, Inc., 12 pp, 1997

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

Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods
U.S. EPA, SW-846 on line