Trichloroethylene (TCE) has been a workhorse solvent in manufacturing for decades. However, regulatory pressure is rapidly changing the landscape.
In December 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act that will prohibit most uses of TCE in the United States due to risks to human health and the environment.
How do you ensure TCE is no longer present in your process, equipment, or supply chain?
Where Residual TCE Can Still Appear
Even after a process conversion, trace amounts of TCE can persist in several areas:
- Legacy cleaning systems and degreasing equipment
- Residual solvent trapped in porous materials or tooling
- Components sourced from suppliers that previously used TCE
- Process chemicals or packaging materials contaminated during manufacturing
- Wastewater streams and environmental residues
Why Residual TCE Testing Matters
For industries with strict contamination requirements such as semiconductor fabrication, aerospace electronics, and advanced packaging, even trace-level solvent contamination can impact reliability and yield.
Two Analytical Techniques for Detecting Residual TCE
Detecting trace levels of trichloroethylene requires analytical methods capable of identifying volatile chlorinated solvents at very low concentrations.
GC-MS is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods for detecting volatile organic compounds such as TCE.
FT-IR provides a complementary technique for detecting chlorinated solvents by measuring how molecules absorb infrared radiation.
GC-MS & FTIR: Why use a Complementary Analytical Approach
In practice, laboratories often use multiple analytical methods together. For TCE testing, Cerium offers a complementary analytical approach using both GC-MS for ultra-trace detection and quantification, and FT-IR for rapid identification and screening of solvent residues.
How the Technique Works: GC-MS
The GC-MS method combines two physical processes: separation and molecular identification. Gas chromatography separates compounds by volatility, molecular size, and polarity. Mass spectrometry ionizes and fragments molecules to produce a molecular fingerprint.
How the Technique Works: FT-IR
FT-IR is based on the physics of molecular vibration. For TCE, strong carbon-chlorine bonds produce distinct absorption peaks in the infrared spectrum.
Preparing for the Future of Solvent Regulation
Proactive testing can help organizations verify successful solvent replacement, protect product yield and reliability, document compliance, and identify contamination sources early.
How Cerium Laboratories Can Help
If your organization is transitioning away from TCE or needs to verify trace contamination levels, Cerium Laboratories can help with advanced GC-MS and FT-IR analytical tools.
About Cerium Laboratories
Originally a subsidiary of a global semiconductor company, Cerium Laboratories has extensive experience in material characterization and research and development programs.