COUPLED-COLUMN REVERSED-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY IN ENVIRONMENTAL-ANALYSIS

An overview is given of the applicability of coupled-column reversed-p hase liquid chromatography (LC-LC) to the trace analysis of organic mi cropollutants in environmental samples, based on typical examples of r ecent and current work. Although LC-LC, as applied to the analysis of polar pesticides in environmental samples, is usually based on the use of two separation columns with almost similar stationary phase select ivity, it will be shown that a considerable gain in the overall select ivity of methods is attainable. Moreover LC-LC provides sensitivity an d potential for automation by utilisation of large volume injections. Due to the large number of parameters involved in the development of a nalytical procedures a systematic approach towards methodogy is discus sed. Two basic types of applications are treated: (i) single-residue m ethodology focused at the rapid determination of one analyte and (ii) multi-residue methodology for the simultaneous determination of a numb er of analytes.