RECOVERIES OF ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS (POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS, POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURANS) IN WATER USING STEAM DISTILLATION SOLVENT-EXTRACTION AT NORMAL-PRESSURE

A simultaneous steam distillation-solvent extraction (SDE) procedure w as used for determining polychrlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated di benzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCBs, PCDDs and PCD Fs) at sub-ppb levels in water samples. Recoveries of 39.8-138.7% and a standard deviation of lower than 10% were achieved for the individua l coplanar PCB and the 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/F congeners. SDE is a fast, clean, inexpensive and reproducible procedure for the determinat ion of individual PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in waters at very low concentr ations.