METHOD FOR THE GROUP SEPARATION OF NON-ORTHO-SUBSTITUTED, MONO-ORTHO-SUBSTITUTED AND MULTI-ORTHO-SUBSTITUTED POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS AND POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURANS USING ACTIVATED CARBON CHROMATOGRAPHY

A cheap, efficient and reliable method for the separation of mono-orth o-/non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), multi-ortho -PCBs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofur ans (PCDDs/PCDFs) from one another and from other interferents was dev eloped. A mixture of activated carbon AX-21 (50 mg) and Celite 545 as a carbon support (1:19) packed in a diposable tube was used. The compo unds were gradually eluted with cyclohexane-dichloromethane-methanol ( 2:2:1) and toluene (a coplanar PCB fraction). PCDDs and PCDFs were reg ained by extraction of the inverted AX-21-Celite column with a small v olume of toluene in a special miniaturized extraction apparatus. Recov eries from the column for PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs varied from 63% to 100% . The method was used successfully for the fractionation of PCB techni cal formulations (Delor 103 and 105), municipal waste incinerator fly ash and biological samples (human adipose tissue, butter, egg and fish samples). The method is suitable for both mass spectrometric and elec tron-capture detection.