SEPARATION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOTHIOPHENES FROM POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZODIOXINS AND DIBENXO-FURANS

Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDT) have recently been identified in a series of environmental samples. Since their masses are very clo se to those of the polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD), low resoluti on mass selective detection cannot be used to distinguish between thes e two classes of compounds. A method is presented which may allow this , involving the oxidation of the PCDTs to the corresponding sulfones w hich have a higher mass than the PCDDs. If needed, the PCDTO(2)s can e asily be separated from the PCDDs and the polychlorinated dibenzofuran s (PCDFs) by simple chromatographic techniques. The PCDDs/Fs are appar ently stable under the oxidative conditions so that now a determinatio n of PCDDs and PCDFs becomes possible without interference from PCDTs.