OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 1071-1077.

• Treatise • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Determination of trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride as disinfection by-products in drinking water by headspace gas chromatography and evaluation of measurement uncertainty

LU Bianfang   

  1. Shanghai Xintiandi Testing Technology Co.Ltd.Shanghai 200444, China
  • Received:2025-10-27 Revised:2025-11-21 Online:2026-04-15 Published:2026-05-18

Abstract:

Objective To establish a headspace capillary gas chromatography method for the determination of disinfection by-products(trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride) in drinking water,provide a reference for establishing methods to detect the concentrations of trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride in drinking water. Methods The standard series were prepared,and multiple batches of water samples were analyzed under optimized conditions. The characteristic parameters including method detection limit,relative standard deviation(RSD) for repeatability,and spike recovery were verified,and measurement uncertainty at different concentration levels were evaluated. Results The calibration curves for trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride(0-6.00 or 0-10.0 μg/L) showed correlation coefficients of 0.997-0.999. The method detection limits(MDL) and lower limits of quantification(LLOQ) were calculated using three approaches. The MDL and LLOQ by the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water-Part 3:Quality Control for Water Analysis(GB/T 5750.3-2023) Clauses 6.4.1 and 6.5 were the highest,which the MDL and LLOQ for trichloromethane were 0.046 and 0.138 μg/L,carbon tetrachloride were 0.023 and 0.069 μg/L,monobromodichloromethane were 0.028 and 0.084 μg/L,sibromochloromethane were 0.033 and 0.099 μg/L,and tribromomethane were 0.046 and 0.138 μg/L,respectively. The MDL and LLOQ by the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water-Part 3:Quality Control for Water Analysis(GB/T 5750.3-2023) Clauses 6.4.2.2 and 6.5 for trichloromethane were 0.021 and 0.063 μg/L,carbon tetrachloride were 0.002 and 0.006 μg/L,bromodichloromethane were 0.008 and 0.024 μg/L,dibromochloromethane were 0.015 and 0.045 μg/L,and tribromomethane were 0.045 and 0.135 μg/L,respectively. The repeatability RSD and spike recoveries at different concentration levels were 0.4%-6.7% and 84%-110% respectively. The relative expanded uncertainty(at a 95%CIk=2) were 18.6%-30.0% for trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride in drinking water. Conclusions This method is rapid,easy to operate,and has low relative deviation,high recovery rates,which is suitable for determining trihalomethanes and carbon tetrachloride in drinking water. The measurement uncertainty primarily stems from gas chromatographic analysis. To reduce its uncertainty levels,regular instrument intermediate checks and maintenance,and operator training should be implemented.

Key words: Gas chromatography, Disinfection by-products, Trihalomethanes, Carbon tetrachloride, Measurement uncertainty, Drinking water safety

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